Baking?? Christmas cookies???


OH NOELLE WAS SO IN!

She was laced head to toe in Christmas gear. She had reindeer horns on, Christmas Bulbs earrings dangling from her ears, weed and green dress on, red and green elf stockings, and Santa shoes on to boot.

Some might say she was a little over dressed.... But hello.... Her name was Noelle. Christmas was her favorite time of the year!!

So when baking was announced, of course that's what she went to first, and that tree decorating was second on her list, but she wanted some good ol' cookies first. Heading up to the station, she looked it over, and a plan slowly started to form in her head for cookies.

Paul was SO SO SO SO SO SO sad so be spending Christmas away from Milton for the first time in years....

BUT....


He was also INCREDIBLY EXCITED for all of the fun activities! Baking! TREE DECORATING! SLEEPOVER?! Yes, the Herbology professor was glad to spend time with people right now, because it was doing wonders to his spirits! He smiled as he approached the Great Hall for the feast and FUN! His santa hat kept falling off his head, but he didn't care--he'd put it back on each time it fell off! Where was the fun if you didn't have a Santa hat?! Paul wished he had some red shoes to really match the rest of his outfit...alas, no red shoes.

The kitchens seemed so bustling, even with there only being one student here--Paul waved at Noelle cheerfully. "Nice to see you! How are you doing, dear?" he asked as he bounced on the balls of his feet in excitement. Where to start...hmm. HMMM.

Olympia loved the house elves. They were so helpful and cute, so naturally the third year made her way to the baking activity that had been set up for them. Olympia had always baked with her Mother's 'maid'. She involuntarily gave a shudder when she thought of the word.

The Gryffindor put her bag down by a spare work station and grabbed an apron, smiling at the few people who were already there. There were also a load of different recipes scattered about the room; Olympia leant across her work bench to pick some up.

The very moment the snakette heard that she could help the house elffies back holiday treats she was there! Seriously Hady wasted no time at all making her way over to where they would be doing all the baking.

Stepping inside this was one place where she had a bright grin on her face. "Hello!," she greeted warmly waving at Noelle, Professor Myers and Olympia. Her hazel eyes were already sweeping across the work stations at all the different ingredients that were laid about for their use. This was awesome.

Pulling out her holiday apron she spilled it over her head and tied the strings around around waist. With a quick push of her sleeves up over her elbows she was ready to go. No thought was needed for she knew what she would be baking today...her favorite cookies. Peppermint cookies...and maybe even mint chocolate chips ones too.

Christmas Baking....

For as long as he could remember Leo had always associated Christmas in part with baking an array of cookies and cakes with the family and just the feel and mood it brought forth in him. With his reindeer ears firmly fasted on his head Leo made his way over to the elves kitchen in the Great Hall. He was going to be staying over Christmas at school so he figured he'd bring and share his christmas spirit with the students and those of his colleagues that was staying for the holiday.

Beaming broadly at the students and Paul that were already checking out the ingredients and equipment he said "Merry Christmas everyone!" Grabbing an apron, he pulled it over his head and tied a knot in the back before he asked around "Does anyone want to help me make a batch of gingerbread men and decorate them with frosting?"

Beatrice, wearing casual trousers and a woolen cardigan, of Christmas colours, ventured excitedly into the kitchens for some Christmas baking!!

There were already a few faces here, and Beatrice smiled warmly at them all. "Hello Noelle, how are you dear? Hello Paul! How are you? Olympia, Hady, how are you both? Ahh Leo, how are you?" GAH! Was it possible for someone to be so happy and bouncy over Christmas baking?

Yes. Yes it was.

Beatrice re-positioned the sparkling red Santa hat on her head, short white waves poking out. She brought her own apron, one shaped like a Christmas tree, and fastened it over her clothes.

Now Leo was going to be baking some gingerbread men! "That sounds delicious," she said, setting up a few spots down from him. Perhaps she would start something else, so as to help some of the younger students. Looking at the recipe,she saw the recipe to Christmas shortbread and saw most of the ingredients there already.

There's also a baking station at the Christmas event. Ava wasn't type a girl who loved baking. In fact, she's TERRIBLE at baking and stuffs. But why she was here? The young lioness decided to add some 'fun' for the baking stuffs.

Without any people notice, she replaced the white frosting with a pipe bag that she had filled with toothpaste. There would be someone that needed the frosting for the cookies, right? Hehehe. Once she'd done with her 'fun mission', Ava innocently greeted the two adults who might gonna bake some gingerbread men. "Mr. Kittridge! Professor B! You both look great and merry Christmas!" A small talk would disguise her mischief, right? "Are you two gonna decorate some gingerbread men?" The frosting was ready to be used by the way, hehehe.

Beatrice smiled at the young lioness as she got the bits and pieces out for the holiday shortbread. Mmm sugar and butter...

And the keen young lass wanted to ice the gingerbread men! "Oh, thank you Ava, as do you! No, not me, but Mr. Kitridge is. Unless youd like to help with shortbread?" the JOYS of Christmas baking, so many choices!

BAKING!

As soon as she had heard that she could help bake, Paulina was excited to join in. Even if she wasn't exactly GOOD at it, she could try her best to help out. Maybe she could even get better at it with the help of the Professors and house elves. Hopefully she wouldn't burn anything though it might be best not to let her near an oven.

"Merry Christmas everyone," she said as she stepped inside. She wasn't late was she? From the look of things they had barely gotten started before she arrived.

Grabbing an apron, she put it on before starting to look through the recipes.

Another delightful student entered the kitchens, and Beatrice turned to see Paulina join them. She looked excited, which just fuelled Beatrice's excitement. "Hello Paulina, dear! What recipe do you have there?" she asked, happily.

Beatrice had decided to keep her wand in her pocket for the baking, and pulled out a wooden spoon, a bowl and some measuring cups. She looked to the recipe to see whether she had all of the ingredients she needed...

Marsha was a little sad that she was going to miss baking at home with her Mum, BUT it was okay because the elves were opening up the kitchens so that the students and Professors alike could bake together. How awesome was that? Hehe.

Moving into the kitchen, Sha picked up an apron, and slipping it over her head, her long red hair pulled back into a high ponytail so that it wouldn’t get in her way when she was leaning over her baking.

She had written down her own recipe before she had arrived, a recipe that she and her Mum made every year just before Christmas… and she wanted to take some of the buns home for her family just after Christmas, to prove that she had been thinking of them even though she had decided to stay at the School for Christmas Eve… Sha was excited that she got the best of both worlds by spending Christmas at Hogwarts and New Years at home.

Taking up an empty space on the table, the Welsh Lion started to gather the ingredients that she needed.

Paul spotted Leo. His librarian pal! He didn't know why, but he enjoyed the younger man's company so much. What a kind soul he was...much like himself. Perhaps he enjoyed how gentle Leo was...it was hard to find a patient man like him these days.

"I'll help you--" he smiled and moved to sit by Leo, when Beatrice greeted him! The white-haired man nodded at the woman. "Hello there, Beatrice--looking very dapper tonight--you could help me and Leo if you wanted!" he said, seeing as he didn't think Leo would mind.

He stood next to Leo and tried to remember how in the world to make gingerbread cookie cough...hmph. Where were the elves? He maybe needed assistance! Paulina, Ava, Marsha, and Olympia were all here as well, now, and he smiled at all of them. Where were all the male students?! Were none of them MAN enough to bake? Hehe, Paul found this funny.

Running fashionably late due to Pebbles' wardrobe malfunction - meaning that she had misplaced her holiday hat - the Astronomy professor made straight for the baking with a bit of forced cheer. He would not lie that he wished he could be spending at least part of the holidays back home to, well, to discuss certain matters. But alas.

"Ho ho hooooooo, who has cookies for Santa?" he greeted as he rubbed his belly. Nothing like freshly baked goods to make that forced smile into a genuine one. Unless it was fruitcake. Then that would be used as a door stop in the astrophysics laboratory should an experiment go wrong and flow through ventilation become a necessity.

As Professors and more students alike entered the baking stations and began pairing off Hady was more then content with working alone. Her recipes weren't overly complicated and didn't take all that many people to help with the baking.

Adjusting the hat on her head first, Hady made her way around the baking station to gather up all the things she'd need for her cookies. Laying out what she would be using on the table before her she began by getting the dough ready. She'd add in the peppermint in a little while.

Toddles sees studenties bakings. Toddles must helps. Toddles is elfs. Elfs needs to helps. Toddles is good elfs. Toddles comes out of kitchens and walkies arounds. Toddles sees studenties makings cookies. Toddles like cookies. Toddles get ingredients outs. Yes Toddles does. Nimmas would be happies.

CHRISTMAS! It made Caleb all giddy and excited, because CHRISTMAS. He loved everything about this holiday - the food, the presents, even the family time. He had never spent Christmas at the castle, and since it was his last year and all, he figured he probably should do it before he lost the chance forever.

The first place he was headed was obviously the baking table. COOKIES! He was so ready to start decorating some cookies - and then stuffing them all in his mouth in about five seconds.

Grace had to admit to herself that there was really only one reason why she had stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas. And it came in the form of the male Slytherin Prefect. But she really wasn't going to tell anyone that. It was kind of embarrassing to be honest. But shush. Nobody was going to know. She was excited though, because she adored Christmas. Hopefully she'd get to spend a little time with Caleb too, because that was always fun.

Now where to go first. Smelling the smell of cookies confirmed her choice, and she headed over to the baking table. She smiled to herself as she notice who was there, and Grace made a beeline over to where Caleb was. "Hey you..." The sixth year greeted, nudging his hip gently as she came to stand alongside him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lissy Longbottom

CHRISTMAS! It made Caleb all giddy and excited, because CHRISTMAS. He loved everything about this holiday - the food, the presents, even the family time. He had never spent Christmas at the castle, and since it was his last year and all, he figured he probably should do it before he lost the chance forever.

The first place he was headed was obviously the baking table. COOKIES! He was so ready to start decorating some cookies - and then stuffing them all in his mouth in about five seconds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RachieRu

Grace had to admit to herself that there was really only one reason why she had stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas. And it came in the form of the male Slytherin Prefect. But she really wasn't going to tell anyone that. It was kind of embarrassing to be honest. But shush. Nobody was going to know. She was excited though, because she adored Christmas. Hopefully she'd get to spend a little time with Caleb too, because that was always fun.

Now where to go first. Smelling the smell of cookies confirmed her choice, and she headed over to the baking table. She smiled to herself as she notice who was there, and Grace made a beeline over to where Caleb was. "Hey you..." The sixth year greeted, nudging his hip gently as she came to stand alongside him.

Thanks to his sister deciding that she was going to stay at Hogwarts, his parents decided that he too should stay behind this year. Frankie was not thrilled about being stuck in the castle at all, which was why he was being very Scrooge-esque this holiday season. Bah humbug!

Nonetheless, the Gryffindor had made his way down from his dormitory to join in on the festivities, even though he was not enjoying the fact that his Christmas jumper was itchy and his perfect hair was being crushed by a stupid Santa hat that was too small for his head. If anything was going to make this holiday any better, it was going to be all those cookies he had full intention of stuffing in his mouth.

In fact, his face did light up a little at the sight of all the baking ingredients and the house-elves running about. His senses were tingling at the sight and smell of the deliciousness before him. But his face quickly fell back to Scrooge-mode when he saw Grace ... and the obvious reason why she decided to not go home.

"Oi!" Frankie walked over to their table and grabbed some sprinkles, which he tossed at sister. "Thanks, sis, for ruining my Christmas." He then, unable to resist, swiped someone's finished gingerbread man and bit its head off. "And Happy Christmas to you, Caleb."

Phillip didn't bake. He ATE the baked goods happily enough but he didn't BAKE. So why was he here? In this baking section? Uh, good question. The boy himself didn't know but he DID see a bunch of students coming towards this side of the castle and, curious enough, he followed. A safe distance was kept but he still followed them into--

Oh MERLIN, this was AMAZING. KITCHENS! NOW HE COULD GET SNACKS AAAAAAAAAANYTIME HE WANTED.

While his stomach let out a small rumble, the Slytherin slithered -- AHAHAHA -- his way past people, looking this way and that. He wasn't looking for an apron, or even a recipe of any kind. Nooooooo! That would require WORK and he was in the mood to EAT. So, he was looking for a vic......... uh, person. Yeah, that's what he was looking for.

Phillip put on his most innocent smile as he made his way over towards an older looking girl who stood out amongst the others. Not surprised because her hair was making her the OPPOSITE of sneaky. More like a torch in the darkness. Yeah, THAT.

"Whaaaaaaatcha making?" he asked, sliding in next to her.

SPOILER!!: Toddles!

Toddles sees studenties bakings. Toddles must helps. Toddles is elfs. Elfs needs to helps. Toddles is good elfs. Toddles comes out of kitchens and walkies arounds. Toddles sees studenties makings cookies. Toddles like cookies. Toddles get ingredients outs. Yes Toddles does. Nimmas would be happies.

Being at a baking station all on her own Hady had no trouble at all spotting Toddles when he appeared. Aaww that little elffie was the cutest and always so helpful. Maybe she wouldn't have to bake her special cookies all alone.

"Toddles?," the fourth year asked softly bending down to be more at his level as she got an idea. "Would you like to help me bake some cookies?" Baking was great fun but even more so when it was with friends or family and Toddles was both to her. So would he help?

SPOILER!!: Prof Beatrice

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

There were already a few faces here, and Beatrice smiled warmly at them all. "Hello Noelle, how are you dear? Hello Paul! How are you? Olympia, Hady, how are you both? Ahh Leo, how are you?" GAH! Was it possible for someone to be so happy and bouncy over Christmas baking?

Now Leo was going to be baking some gingerbread men! "That sounds delicious," she said, setting up a few spots down from him. Perhaps she would start something else, so as to help some of the younger students. Looking at the recipe,she saw the recipe to Christmas shortbread and saw most of the ingredients there already.

Leo was rummaging through the recipes on the hunt for the gingerbread men one by the time that he was joined by his blond colleague. Looking up he beamed merrily "Merry Christmas Beatrice. I'm feeling splendid. How about yourself?" It was hard not to be happy Leo thought since he soon was going to be mixing up ingredients and enjoying every minute of it. Watching Beatrice take up a work bench a few spots down from him he grinned in response. "That's the plan, what do you plan to bake?"

SPOILER!!: Ava

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomRaven

Without any people notice, she replaced the white frosting with a pipe bag that she had filled with toothpaste. There would be someone that needed the frosting for the cookies, right? Hehehe. Once she'd done with her 'fun mission', Ava innocently greeted the two adults who might gonna bake some gingerbread men. "Mr. Kittridge! Professor B! You both look great and merry Christmas!" A small talk would disguise her mischief, right? "Are you two gonna decorate some gingerbread men?" The frosting was ready to be used by the way, hehehe.

"Merry Christmas Ava!" Leo greeted the lioness with big beam as the first year girl joined him and Beatrice in the kitchen. Nodding he said "As a matter of fact I'm planning to make and decorate gingerbread men. You are welcome to help me if you want? I see you've already found the frosting so that's a start. We need more than one colour though. Can you see if the elves has got some more colours than just white frosting?" Leo wanted the cookies to look festive so they needed more than one coloured frosting.

SPOILER!!: Prof Paul

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayquilz

"I'll help you--" he smiled and moved to sit by Leo, when Beatrice greeted him! The white-haired man nodded at the woman. "Hello there, Beatrice--looking very dapper tonight--you could help me and Leo if you wanted!" he said, seeing as he didn't think Leo would mind.
He stood next to Leo and tried to remember how in the world to make gingerbread cookie cough...hmph. Where were the elves?

"Merry Christmas Paul!" Leo greeted as the herbology professor came over to sit by him. "Can you start to melt butter and then brush it out on 2 baking trays?" Baking was more fun when you did it together with someone so Leo didn't mind putting Paul to work. Fetching a bowl and all the ingredients he needed Leo started the process of making the dough by blending everything together with the help of his wand. "How come you decided to stay at Hogwarts over Christmas?" Or was that a too private question?

SPOILER!!: Prof Airey

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

"Ho ho hooooooo, who has cookies for Santa?" he greeted as he rubbed his belly. Nothing like freshly baked goods to make that forced smile into a genuine one. Unless it was fruitcake. Then that would be used as a door stop in the astrophysics laboratory should an experiment go wrong and flow through ventilation become a necessity.

If it was anyone that would go extreme on Christmas it'd be Airey. So Leo wasn't very surprised when Ariey made his entrance in the kitchen looking like Santa's brother with beard and everything. Smiling merrily Leo said "Merry Christmas Airey! Paul and I are making gingerbread men. What is your favourite Christmas cookie or dessert?"

SPOILER!!: Paulina

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishy

As soon as she had heard that she could help bake, Paulina was excited to join in. Even if she wasn't exactly GOOD at it, she could try her best to help out. Maybe she could even get better at it with the help of the Professors and house elves. Hopefully she wouldn't burn anything though it might be best not to let her near an oven.

"Merry Christmas everyone," she said as she stepped inside. She wasn't late was she? From the look of things they had barely gotten started before she arrived.

The next student to arrive in the kitchen was one of Meredith's house. Beaming he said "Merry Christmas Paulina! I'm sure Prof Beatrice wouldn't mind some help with her bake." Since Christmas baking was supposed to be something you did together with others. It was more fun that way and raised the holiday spirit. Now they just needed to start singing carols.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RachieRu

Grace had to admit to herself that there was really only one reason why she had stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas. And it came in the form of the male Slytherin Prefect. But she really wasn't going to tell anyone that. It was kind of embarrassing to be honest. But shush. Nobody was going to know. She was excited though, because she adored Christmas. Hopefully she'd get to spend a little time with Caleb too, because that was always fun.

Now where to go first. Smelling the smell of cookies confirmed her choice, and she headed over to the baking table. She smiled to herself as she notice who was there, and Grace made a beeline over to where Caleb was. "Hey you..." The sixth year greeted, nudging his hip gently as she came to stand alongside him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoe

Thanks to his sister deciding that she was going to stay at Hogwarts, his parents decided that he too should stay behind this year. Frankie was not thrilled about being stuck in the castle at all, which was why he was being very Scrooge-esque this holiday season. Bah humbug!

Nonetheless, the Gryffindor had made his way down from his dormitory to join in on the festivities, even though he was not enjoying the fact that his Christmas jumper was itchy and his perfect hair was being crushed by a stupid Santa hat that was too small for his head. If anything was going to make this holiday any better, it was going to be all those cookies he had full intention of stuffing in his mouth.

In fact, his face did light up a little at the sight of all the baking ingredients and the house-elves running about. His senses were tingling at the sight and smell of the deliciousness before him. But his face quickly fell back to Scrooge-mode when he saw Grace ... and the obvious reason why she decided to not go home.

"Oi!" Frankie walked over to their table and grabbed some sprinkles, which he tossed at sister. "Thanks, sis, for ruining my Christmas." He then, unable to resist, swiped someone's finished gingerbread man and bit its head off. "And Happy Christmas to you, Caleb."

It wasn't long before Caleb had company - and it was good company, that was for sure. It was...well, weird, Caleb determined, how he suddenly just started to enjoy her company more and more after having known her for like, ever. Their parents knew each other and went to school together, and up until a few months ago, she'd just been his childhood friend Grace. It was a scary, scary thought, thinking that MAYBE, just MAYBE, he would want more out of that, but that was what going on dates and stuff was for, right? He grinned as Grace joined him, which was perfect since he had this AWESOME idea that was going to put into play that would go down in history as the coolest way EVER to make a move, but then...someone had to BUTT IN.

Wrinkling his eyebrows, Caleb looked over at Frankie, who...was older than he remembered now. True, he hadn't interacted with the boy since he had been like...10, if he remembered correctly, but still. He had to pick NOW to come back and have a conversation with him? UGH.

"Happy Christmas, Frankie. You two enjoying your time here in the castle for Christmas? I figured I'd do it, at least once, before I'm gone for good, you know?" he said with a smile. His super adorable awesome plan would have to wait for just a bit.

Would it be cheesy of her to want to just look at his face. Caleb had a really pretty face, and Grace really did want to just look at it all day long. But she figured that wasn't the best way to get a guy to like her. So maybe not any face staring just yet. She just smiled at him, and then looked down at the cookies. She didn't know when she had started to feel like this about Caleb, when he had gone from a child hood friend to something more, but she kind of liked it. She wasn't sure if he felt the same though. So face staring was very much off of the cards.

She really needed to find out if he felt the same. Because she didn't want to waste time on someone who didn't feel the same. Maybe she could ask now. She'd think about it. She was about to say something else when she heard the annoying droning of her brother. Ugh. Franklin didn't have the best timing.

"Not my fault Mom and Dad made you stay..." The sixth girl murmured, shaking her head. She hadn't thought that they'd make him stay just because she was. It wasn't like he was 10 any more. "This is my first time staying too..." She mused, glancing up at Caleb, and smiling a little. She may or may not have had a little bit of hearts eye. "We usually go home... but I fancied a change this year." One that her brother clearly didn't like. Oh well. Tough luck.

Beatrice was rubbing the butter into the sugar and flour, when more students came in and joined them. The sight of them delighted her, and she greeted them all.

"Hello Marsha, what are you making there?" She asked the young girl who seemed to be using one of her own recipes.

Beatrice couldn't help but grin at Paul. He was always so happy and friendly. She did a tiny little curtsy, laughing as she did so. "As do you Paul, very good. I love your jumper!"

And what an entrance Airey was making. Beatrice grinned at him, LOVING his outfit. Indeed who had cookies for santa? "Hello Airey, Merry Christmas," Beatrice greeted. "I don't have any finished ones yet, but I'm sure there will be some shortbread shortly." As soon as she finished, and baked them.

And there was another one working alone, which was fine with Beatrice. "How are you going over there Hady? Do you need a hand with anything?" she asked, but saw Toodles.

And then Caleb, Grace, Phillip and Fanklin entered. "Merry Christmas you lot! What goodies are you thinking of baking?" Beatrice asked them as they came in.

"I'm excellent thank you Leo! How could I be any way on such a lovely wintery Christmas day?" It had been by far one of Beatrice's favourite mornings in the castle, the warm heated winter feel in her bedroom, and snow on the windows. "I'm whipping together some shortbread now. I don't know what I'll do next, but we'll see how time goes. It's been a while since I baked the old muggle way." Usually it was her and her wand.