Looove it!
Why does Hogwarts need all the protection, I wonder.
Hmmmm....
Great Post Maxie. PAMS>

Weeelll.. That cleared a bit up, hahah! It was amazing to read something awesome after watching a fail movie lol..

I love the new update Maxi! Ruby is awesome, and the kitty *swoons* epic as ever! I think it's my favorite character, the rest are cool and all, but the kitten.. Hahaha!

I wonder, do those men really not eat lipstick?!

I don't see her as dense. Like you said earlier, she's a bit like Luna - intelligent [after her own fashion] but, well, different. That said, different people interpret/ see characters in different ways, and they're always welcome to, as far as my stories are concerned. =]

I think you're so used to reading my shifty stories that you are now suspicious of everything I write.

Should be soon, and thaaank you.

MUCH love to you, Connie. <3

YAY!

Because Voldemort is out to eat it! ^__^ =D

Thank youu, sweetie.

Faiiil movie? *thinks HBP* xD

Thank you, and the kitty is vair glad to have such an ardent admirer.

You can never tell. =p

-wipes brow- JEEZ, love! You had me scared for a moment! Good thing they're not scary death eaters or kitty stealers.

Ruby and her lipstick.

BUT... what I want to know it, why do they have bigger security procedures this year? Something seems fishy.

The kitty stealers bit isn't confirmed. =p

Because the biig, baad Voldemort has gained power and let 'em all know he's ready to make a move on Hogwarts?

Quote:

Philippine [it had never taken much to scare her] gave a little scream and took a step backwards, back pressed against the open window, and eyes wide.

So Philippine is the easiest to scare...

Quote:

She did not sound scared, only brisk. Her tones carried distaste, an utter disregard for the intruders, and her dark, copper-coloured hair seemed to cackle electrically.

Ooh and Ruby has a temper to match her hair!

Quote:

“Excuse me, madam?”

He had a deep, mature voice; the kind Philippine would have called sophisticated, Ariel niiiice, and Ruby 'Oooh, HAWT!'; the kind that belongs to people that have a heckalotof important things going on in life, and tend to stick to their own business, because there is so much of it and of such significance, and because they have the excellent sense no to interfere unnecessarily in others' businesses.

I have taken an instant liking to this character. He sounds hotter than John. I doubt we'll see more of him though.

Quote:

She turned to the man behind her, the one that still stood in the door. "I'll leave you to handle this compartment, Feller, and then I need you in the conference room. There are things to be discussed."

Is it just me or does Simone sound stressed out? I don't see her as a bad person but she seems impatient.

Quote:

“Miss Sarden,” Simone said coolly. She did not seemed impressed by Ruby's behavior, and that caused Ruby to look even more bratty and rebellious. “The men are not going to search your trunks, Miss Sarden, those shall be passed on to female employees – and I assure you, none of them eat lipstick.”

Ruby scowled and crossed her arms against her chest, but Simone had already turned on her heel and left.

Aww. They both don't like each other!

~~Jay~~

Yep. But once the 'scare' passes, she's also the first to actually start thinking clearly.

You can never be too sure! -shifteh-

xD

She IS impatient. She has lots to do, and she thinks Ruby is being a pain in the neck. =p

Never be too sure? Oooh does this mean we might see more of him?

~~Jay~~

It's the little details
that are vital.
Little things
make b i g t h i n g s happen.


Simone's back disappeared in an instant, but Ruby continued to scowl, gaze fixed on the compartment door. The man at the door cleared his throat, causing her to snap back into focus. The moment she did so, she realized [Ruby being Ruby] that this man = hot = this man.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said coyly, batting her eyelashes. "How rude of me."

He ignored her, and turned to Philippine. "I'm going to levitate your trunks, ma'am. If you'll please step to a side."

"Oh, of course." Philippine nodded, giving Ruby [whose eyes had wiiidened as she registered that she, she the oh-so-beautiful Ruby Sarden, had been ignored by this man. How dare he?] a huuuge smirk as she did as directed, allowing Mr. He-Who-Ignored-Ruby [Philippine had a feeling she would remember him by this name, even ten years from now] to levitate the trunks in the compartment. He set them outside the compartment and, seconds later, they had disappeared.

He turned around once he had set the trunks outside, his eyes once again holding Philippine's gaze [and completely ignoring Ruby]. "If you could collect any handbags in this compartment, miss?" He asked the dark-haired girl.

He had brisk tones, a business-like type, but his voice was deep, and Ruby decided that no man this young could leave this compartment unless he talked to her - especially no this young that had this deep a voice. So, glaaaring at Philippine [Philippine openly stuck her tongue out at her friend, in response, and Ruby firmly turned her back on Philippine] she picked up her handbag and held it out.

"Here you go, sir." Ruby might have sounded super sophisticated, if she had not taken a step closer to the young man, and flashed him a stunning, flirtatious smile.

He raised an eyebrow. "Thank you, Miss Sarden." He still sound brisk, all professional, and Ruby's eyes narrowed for one, rebellious moment as he turned back to Philippine and paid her no further attention. "The other two ladies?"

Philippine gave Ruby a looooong, pointed smirk as she picked hers up and, since he had asked her to collect all the handbags in the compartment, bent down to pick Ariel's. Only to realize that Ariel had placed her usual, bright red handbag in the kitty's basket [to serve as a cushion for the kitty] and the kitty had, by now, actually fallen asleep. On top of the handbag. [Even though it - the kitty and not the handbag - did look a little... uncomfortable] She gave the man standing at the door an embarrassed, little look, before nudging Ariel, who had completely missed out on Ruby's [faaaaailing] attempt at flirtation as she stared out of the window, and counted PINK! signboards.

“Nine pink signboards so far," Ariel said, in response to Philippine's nudge. "Does the big, blue man need something else, now?"

“Lady -" The 'big, blue man' had just raised an eyebrow. "This is part of a Ministry-approved security check. I need your handbag.” He did not sound impatient, like Simone had, but he did sound unimpressed by the redhead's nickname for him.

“My handbag?” Ariel took a moment to stare at the handbag that the kitty lay curled upon and, after this moment, quietly but firmly decided that no, the kitty must not be disturbed just because somebody else needed her handbag. It might be dreaming of sheep, and pretty dreams like that should not be shaken. "I'm sorry, but my handbag is busy at the moment.”

“Madam." The man still did not sound impatient, but Ruby had a feeling that he might, just might, be the type that fly into a rage, all of a sudden; and to be honest, she had no desire to be called a co-conspirator in this case, should that happen. So she looked at Philippine to ask what they should do, only to realize that Philippine was still all smirks. UGH. You wait till I kiss Rylon Mahogany, Philippine Andrews. " I have already told you this is part of a Ministry-approved security check. Your -"

“But all I have in my handbag is chocolate," Ariel had this completely serious face on, now - a can-you-not-understand-the-unimportance-of-the-contents-of-my-handbag? face."Don't tell me you're planning to eat that instead of Ruby's lipstick." She smiled all brightly.

"I'm going to ask you one last time, madam -"

"But all I have in my handbag is -"

He raised his wand and, for one shocked moment, both Ruby and Philippine believed that Ariel might end up hexed or put into a temporary sleep [and the kitty, half-opening one big eye, thought, Perfect! Now I don't have to sleep on this stuupid handbag anymore. It makes me itch, human being, it makes me iiitch] but the moment passed as quickly as a sudden flash of lightning, and no hex erupted out of the tip of the man's wand. The handbag did slide out from under the kitty and right out of the basket, however [the man blinked as the kitty was turned upside-down and GLAAAARED at him. He'd had no idea she had put her handbag under a kitty] and this - and the sight of the upturned kitty - caused Ariel to staare at him.

"You can not be serious," she said, grabbing the strap of her handbag. The said handbag, under the effect of the Ministry man's spell, tried to squirm out of her grip, but Ariel refused to let go. "Do you realize you've just woken up the poor creature? That's terrible of y -"

"Love, just give it to him -" Ruby began coyly, deciding that this here was THE moment to impress this man, and get him to thank her. But Ariel held on to the handbag, as if for dear life and this act convinced the man that she had something to hide - he'd been suspicious of her, all bright and aloof, from the start [but then, who wouldn't be? Even the kitty thought, by now, that its super senses smelled something fishy here] and, since Law Enforcement personnel are the kind of people trained to suspect, he could not be blamed for taking Ariel's persistence as a sign of her sneakiness.

Of course, had he known her, he could never, ever had thought this, but of course, he did not know her. Trouble all around, even for the kitten because it now thought that it had been used to conceal a handbag full of dark artifacts. This human wasn't nuts, she was EVIL! Run, kitty, run!

Culmination? In an act Ariel had not seen coming – and Ruby and Philippine had, aaaages ago – he marched over to the redhead and, with a brisk, no-more-nonsense tug, attempted to take her handbag from her. The handbag, unfortunately, flew right out of Ariel's grip - literally flew right out of Ariel's grip - and sooaaaared through the air, landing by the door where, poor thing, it burst open at the seams. Its contents rushed out in a tumble, and the man might have slapped his head in frustration, had he not been in front of three ladies.

The contents?

Half a dozen chocolate frog cards, a packet of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, and a small teddy bear.



Reference:

[] "It's the little details that are vital -" John Wooden.

YAY. NEW POSTTT!!!

*thoroughly reads it*

EEP. I like how understandable your writing is on this particular fic, Maxerssss. And the last three paragraphs cracked me up XD

^__^

Thaaank you. AND I'm glad I could make you laugh. <33



[EDIT]
111th post. Such a strange number. O_o

Hello Maxie. Loved this line. Ruby could take pleasure for her ego's sake, that he remembered her name without having to ask for it again. I wonder if, because of the attention she is given to by this man, if she might not care if Ruby kisses Rylon Mahogany. So, if they are legitimate Law Enforcement, then will they... O wait. What time period are we in here. Is it before Draco's Peruvian Black Powder, and his Hand of Glory, or after? I'll leave it at that for now. Great post MAxie. I'll be watching for your next notification. Much much love to you.

*loves YOU*

Aww. Methinks Philippine is too nice to try and snatch a guy Ruby sets her eyes on. <33

Draco has yet to be born.

Thank you, Connie. *HUGS* <3

Cheeky girl. I like it. But really, poor thing. At least she didn't have anything too embarrassing in her handbag, like a photo of her crush or something. AWKWARD, that would've been.

And... VOLDEMORT'S KINDA BACK?! *O* I love that snugglebear! -strokes dark mark- He's even gotten festive for the holidays! See? -points down the post-

Oooooh, a teddy bear? Love the post Maxie! PAMS!

Ariel + a crush = DISASTER. She'd want to keep her crush in her bag, and not his photo.

Oh maaan. Your siggie is awesome! =pp

YUSH. Thaank you, and shall do. ^__^

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxilocks

Little things
make b i g t h i n g s happen.

*suspicious*

Quote:

The moment she did so, she realized [Ruby being Ruby] that this man = hot = this man.

Do I see a plot unfolding? :O :O :O

Quote:

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said coyly, batting her eyelashes. "How rude of me."

He ignored her, and turned to Philippine. "I'm going to levitate your trunks, ma'am. If you'll please step to a side."

Hahaz!! He ignored Ruby. How awesome!

Quote:

Only to realize that Ariel had placed her usual, bright red handbag in the kitty's basket [to serve as a cushion for the kitty] and the kitty had, by now, actually fallen asleep. On top of the handbag. [Even though it - the kitty and not the handbag - did look a little... uncomfortable]

Quote:

“Nine pink signboards so far," Ariel said, in response to Philippine's nudge. "Does the big, blue man need something else, now?"

“Lady -" The 'big, blue man' had just raised an eyebrow. "This is part of a Ministry-approved security check. I need your handbag.”

Quote:

The contents?

Half a dozen chocolate frog cards, a packet of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, and a small teddy bear.

Aww. Poor Ariel. Do these contents have some significance in the story?

~~Jay~~

What do YOU think?

:]

In a way. Nothing huge, though.

AWW! Kitteh my love! I have non scratchy handbags!!!

Haha! Chocolate, teddy bear, actually sounds a bit like my purse.. Teehehe..

Oooh! Rubeh is maddd! And don't you dare kiss Phil's (mind that I call you that Philippine?) guy!

Haha, noo, it was actually Vampires Suck...

She IS. In a good way, though. Mostly. =p

Philippine: Isn't that a guy name? O_o

I've never seen/ heard of it. =[

Haha, Ruby is a funny character

Me: Well.. No?

It's a spin-off of the Twilight movies/books

The world needs anger.
[It] often continues to allow evil
because it isn't
a n g r y enough.


The 'small teddy bear' had been no ordinary teddy bear [not that you could convince Ariel that anything she or anyone else had could be ordinary] but a present from the father she only had memories of now; a stiff but cute, roundish mass of glass.

I say 'had been' because, the moment it hit the floor, it did not - like the other contents - lay there, staaaaring up at everyone in the compartment, or turn over with a soft thump, but crack into scores of brilliantly shining pink shards that skidded along the floor, flew into the air [the kitten in the basket gave a kitty!shriek and launched itself on the man in the door, digging its claws into the man's shoulder] and even flopped right out of the slightly open door.

Ariel's eyes might have been still-as-death blue saucers. For a moment, all was quiet, and then she looked up, from under thick eyelashes, and said in a choked, disbelief-ish tone:

"Mr. Banana Split."

The young man, as he attempted to shoo the kitten off himself [the kitten dug its claws deeper into his shoulder. Stop trying to put me down, you oaf of a man, it thought, there's GLASS on the floor. It'll hurt my little paws. You smeeeell intelligent, so can't you tell? *DIG*] looked thoroughly, thoroughly decomposed.

Firstly, he had never intended to be here; he had had other things to do, but events had looked serious, so he had dropped the other businesses and joined the MLE personnel on the train. Secondly, now that he had come, the last thing he had expected was to have to face a mental kitten that refused to let go of him [sure, I'm handsome, but a kitten? Have mercy on me, people.] Thirdly, the redhead had been right, and her handbag contained no disturbing item. Fourthly - and this unsettled him the most - he had some part [okay, a lot of part] in breaking the girl's... toy?

[Who carries a toy in their handbag at this age? Merlin, Hades, Thor and cheese, is this girl for real?]

He cleared his throat, quite unsure how to react - and though none of the girls in the compartment knew, this was a most uncharacteristic reaction for the man standing in the doorway. He was never unsure. Never - before giving a broad-shouldered shrug that seemed to suggest that the teddy was a noble sacrifice in the path to the greater good. "Right," he said briskly. "It seems -"

Ariel's lip wobbled.

He changed track as fast as lightning. "I'm extremely sorry, madam," he said, the brisk tones, the business-like shrug, the calm gaze all gone in a puff of nothingness. [What is with women and crying? He thought furiously, fully aware how much he hated to see a lady, any lady, cry. It could make any sane person feel guilty - especially if he already knew he had reason to feel guilty - make any sane person feel like he'd committed a horrible act, like stolen one of the Giant Squid's tentacles, or put itching powder in one's best friend's PJs by accident and then blamed it on someone else.]

Ariel's lip continued to wobble.

He plowed on. "I'm extremely sorry, madam. Your actions were bound to have made Law Enforcement suspicious and -" And goodness woman, stop giving me that teary-eyed look! It was only a toy. "- I apologize." His tones had managed to acquire their usual cool calm by now, but that did not mean he felt at his ease here. "I'm almost certain that toy can be fixed. Reparo!"

Nothing happened. Each and every spell has a limit, a space or place that it can be effective in or against. The shattered glass toy had broken into a looot of pieces, and many of them had been flung right outside the spell's field of effectiveness. Those that still remained inside it moved and stuck to each other, but the result did not even remotely resemble the actual glass teddy bear: in fact, the headless, armless product made Ariel snap.

“Stop it! You're disfiguring Mr. Banana Split. You are a mean, big blue man.”

“I apologize –”

“Mean. You're meaaan."

"Cut it out, Riel." Ruby had gently crossed her arms against her chest, in an attempt to look all mature and prominent and helpful. "I'm certain he didn't mean it, did he, Philippine?" She looked over at Philippine, as if to ask for help, and Philippine gave an uncertain, little nod that couldn't have convinced a gnome. "Law enforcement employees are trained to suspect. It's for our benefit." She had a don't-I-sound-professional touch to her tones, and she sidled up to the young man as she spoke. He took a cold step away from her but, thankfully for Ruby, she did not notice this as she turned back to look at her redheaded friend. "Let's cool it, okay?"

Ariel seemed to ponder over this. She decided that Ruby didn't mean anything she had just said, not one letter, and glaaaared at her. “Tell him to fix my teddy. It's important to me." Her eyes didn't say much else now, not much else expect that she needed that glass toy fixed right here, right now. They didn't say it was like a crystallized memory, or a moment in time, something she couldn't just give up on.

"You know that's not possible -" Ruby began, now annoyed that her chance to look amazingly persuasive might be flying right out of the compartment window.

"Madam." The young man took a step forward. "The most I can do is to make a new toy of that sort available to y -"

"I don't want a new toy." Ariel glared daggers at him. [Philippine left the compartment at this point, plucking the kitten still happily digging its claws into the man's shoulder off him, and muttering something about "all of these people are stubborn idiots, honestly. Come on, kitty, let's go. You and I, I think we need a snack" but nobody noticed]. "I think you're mean and big and blue, and I know you need to fix my toy."

"I can't -"

"Should," Ariel tossed back.

[Ruby looked in the young man's direction.]

"Madam, I can't possibly -"

"But you broke it," came the unhappy, large-eyed response.

[Ruby took a step towaaaards him.]

"Miss -"

"You're mean."

[Ruby reached him. Woohoo! She thought. WOOHOO!]

"Excuse me, but -"

"Big, blue and meaaaan." Ariel sounded unhappy and troubled now, as if she had never truly considered the possibility that the toy might not get fixed.

[Ruby touched his shoulder, all comfortingly.]

"Lady." He sounded riled, hiiighly riled as he brushed Ruby's hand firmly off, and the sudden change in tone surprised Ariel so much, she could not make a comeback. It was the man's turn to cross his arms against his chest, now. The redhead constantly calling him names and - more than that - the other girl's tendency to stick a little too close to him, had finally gotten to him.

"Excuse me lady, but I am not here to be insulted. I've had enough of you and your attitude." He sounded snappish for the first time since he had stepped on the train, and he knew himself how the main cause of it wasn't just the girl he had just snapped at, but the other, Ruby; but he was too irritated to be reasonable. "If you're that hurt over the loss of your toy, stop biting my head off and talk to Simone Black. Let me tell you in advance, however, that you're likely to be sent right back to your compartment. It is our duty to protect your lives, and if a few toys end up broken in the process of making sure all is right, MLE does not and cannot consider it a misfortune."

His voice was cold, very cold, and Ariel huddled in her corner, shocked and sad and upset and almost angry, and the young man turned round and, dark robes flapping behind him, shut the door so briskly [though not intentionally briskly ] that it ratted on its hinges, as he left.



Reference:

[] "The world needs anger -" Bede Jarrett.

I hate to say it but Ariel kinda had that coming to her. I hate weeping chicks too, but Ruby needs a cold shower but I totally want that kitty!!!

Hello Maxie. My heart goes out to Ariel. She needs a certain French boy to come save her. I feel so badly that she has lost her memory of her father. A terrible thing to happen. And I feel bad that her friends haven't done anything to help or even console her. How can friendship be such a shallow stream? Does her nightmare have anything to do with her fathers death?
Great post Maxie. I can't wait to read more. Much love to you.

I agree wholeheartedly. I mean, Ariel is the best but... grow up, sweetie!

Still, Mr. Banana Split.

COLD SHOWER.