Theme # 49: Yule Ball


Love-marriage sounds fascinating, but Walburga Black knew, now, that it had its disadvantages. She glanced up as Orion stepped into the room and asked, surprise in his tones,

“You aren’t ready yet, Burga?”

She had known he would say that. Meh – dating had been easier. At least he did not know, then, how long she took to get ready. Because she was always ready, by the time he came to pick her up.

“I take my time, Orion. Besides, this Yule Ball is special – first you have hosted, since our marriage. I need to look perfect.”

Enough said.

Theme # 50: Boggart


Old age – Violetta Bulstrode could not but help grumble about it. She had lived a full life, a rich life – still did – but she felt like her lack of youth made her an outsider, now.

“That’s no the point, Pollux –” Cygnus, her husband, told their son, quite firmly. “I will not take that attitude from –”

“But dad –”

Violetta stood up, picked up her knitting-needles, and retreated into the drawing room. Maybe she should cook something to lighten herself up. Or get rid of the boggart Pollux kept in one of his bedroom cabinets – anything to forget her age.

Theme # 51: Act


She wore huge sunglasses, not because they were a fashion statement, but because she hoped to impress. Rita Skeeter was not sure if the act would work, and the eighteen-year old bit her lip as she was allowed in the office.

“Miss Skeeter. Have a seat.”

She sat down, handed over her documents. She had owled them in, before, but she was sure they would not have been paid much attention. She only knew that she needed the job to support herself. Her family.

The woman opposite her ruffled through the folder.

Rita crossed her fingers, beneath the table.

Theme # 85: Snappish


“Come on, Lysandra – ”

“No!” Lysandra Yaxley said furiously. She snatched the gold bangles her best friend held out, and flung them across the floor. Hurt filled Lycoris’s her eyes.

“Those were from my brother, Lysandra Yaxley!” she snapped.

“Your brother, whom I am being forced to marry!” Lysandra shot back. “I say this for the last time, Lycoris – I will NOT marry where I do not love, just because there are no purebloods my family deems eligible!”



She had been such a determined person. Thirty years later, Lysandra Yaxley wondered what had made her give in to the pressure.

Theme # 52: Bore


To be fair to her, Millicent Bulstrode was as surprised as her opponent, when the two of them were paired for the duel. But she had been quite bored with her life lately, and that worked in her favour, because it helped her get into her element – she had switched to muggle wrestling, with the speed of light.

Hermione Granger, for her part, was not too happy with this turn of events. Her strength was spell-work, and Millicent did not give her a chance to put that to use.

Millicent grinned to herself as she pounced on her foe.

Theme # 67: Quell


“Alice, please!”

But she would not let go. Her father tried to quell her with words, but she clung to his back and, at long last, he gave into her wish – took her to the ice-cream parlour, and let her enjoy a bowl of chocolate to her heart ‘s desire, even though it was mid-winter, and he was pretty scared his five-year-old would get sick.

“You,” he told her, as they trotted back home. “Will make a brave woman, some day, little one.”


When she officially became an auror, Alice Longbottom, he could only hug her.

Theme # 99: Newspaper


This – this would be the scoop of her life! Betty Braithwaite waggled her eyebrows as, the day’s newspaper in one hand, she sat down at her desk. It bore two overflowing ashtrays, one lamp and several piles of paperwork – the first a direct result of the pressure of the last. But she was not under pressure, today – sure, this story put someone she believed to be good in a miserable light but, as long as it brought her a satchel or two of money, who was she to care?

A reporter's life never had been a bed of roses.

Theme # 53: Chase


The man's eyes were filled with hatred, his hands balled into fists, in his pockets. “You'll come to a bloody, bad end, Lufkin!” He spat, and angry sparks flew from the tip of his wand. “This is a man's job, and it would be better if you cut the stupid chase short, NOW!”

She merely narrowed her eyes; left.



Artemisia Lufkin – the first woman to become Minister of Magic. A small smile curled her lips as she thought of this. Then she bent forward to retrieve some paperwork – put the memories of her struggle to momentary rest.

Theme # 54: Dare


“I'm sure that's not the best idea, Smortell,” an old lady told the cat curled up in her flowerbed. “The little plants don't like being sat upon, you know.”

Smortell blinked as if she had dared him to jump off the edge of Mount Everest, then yawned and curled up a bit more. Griselda Marchbanks heaved a sigh, and decided it was time to cook some dinner.

Because she did not want to admit that the very Griselda Marchbanks who could scare the best of students into fits of nervousness, could not make one fat cat budge.

Theme # 84: Angry


“Hey you, acne-head!”

Eloise Midgen raised a spell-book to shield her face, and tried to rush out of the corridor. But the Slytherin girl who had called out that rather rude nickname of hers, poked out one leg, and Eloise tripped over it, found herself hurling through air.

Sprawled on the stone-floor, she could hear several Slytherins laugh loudly in the background, and her eyes filled, not with hurt, but with anger. Why could these Slytherins not leave her alone, not leave anyone alone, ever?

With a snarl, she raised herself to her feet, and walked away.

Theme # 55: Egg on


He had ASKED for this, egged her on on purpose, of that Miss Gwendolyn Morgan was certain. She was exhausted, tired out from her vicious, seven-day match with the Heidelberg Harriers – how dare Brand, Harriers Captain Rudolf Brand, take it into his head to propose to her at such a time?

“You IDIOT –”

“Gwendolyn, listen –” He actually took a step backwards. He was a rather good-looking guy, and had been pretty sure she would not say no, but now it came back to him how fiery she was and –

THWACCKKKK.

She concussed him with her Cleansweep Five, left.

Theme # 56: Fight


It had been terrible, the fight – her parents had been furious, when she had told him she had fallen for a merman. Part-human marriages were not disallowed in her family, but a merman? She couldn’t possibly marry one! Where the heck would they live?

But Mirabella Plunkett was adamant – marry her merman, she would. Of course, she had no idea if he loved her back, but she would find some way to convince him of that. Feed him some sort of love potion, if she had to.

“Courage is my middle name, mum!”

“No darling, that’s stupidity.”

Theme # 57: Gape


“If you give me that look one more time, Potter, I will BEHEAD you and wear your teeth in my necklace!”

Fiery, she always had been towards him. But she had never gone as far as to suggest his pretty, white teeth did not look good on him, before. James Potter was indignant!

“Evans,” he began deeply. “You –”

“If you lay your hand on Severus Snape ONE more time,” she snapped, grabbing him by the collar. Her eyes were furious – in her opinion, he had gone too far, this time. “I will BREAK your head, Potter. Break it.”

Sirius gaped.

Theme # 58: Hoot


An owl hooted in the distance, and Gabrielle Delacour shivered. It was cold, and she was not too happy to be away from her family – she was the apple of her mother ‘s eye, and had never been away from home.

Boarding school was not nice.

She would get used to it within weeks but, for now, she did not know that. She only knew that night one at Beauxbatons was quite devoid of sleep, and that she hated not being able to switch on all the lights, anytime she wanted to.

Life was not at its best turn, tonight.

Theme # 59: Ignore


"This is all YOUR fault, Eileen!" His eyes were so angry, they looked like a blaze of fire, and Eileen Prince knew it would do her no good to fight back. She merely pursed her lips, ignored him - walked out of the room.



"Mum."

She looked up from the newspaper, and saw Severus. "Mmm?" she answered back, donning a smile. For his sake, only. Because she did nothing for the sake of her husband, anymore. But Severus?

She knew he hated to see her upset -- and she tried her best not to give him reason to suspect she was unhappy.

Theme # 60: Joke


"No know ... NO KNOW, Miriam. Get it - get it?" He laughed loudly at his own joke, and Miriam Strout blinked - healer at the James Thickey Ward at St. Mungo's she had been for quite a while; but a patient like Gilderoy Lockhart? No, she had never quite seen the likes of him, before.

"It's time to tuck you into bed, Gildie," she said, in her most motherly tones, as she grabbed him by the arm. He continued to chuckle, and she heaved a little sigh as she steered him into a warm bed.

Fate stunned her.

Stunned her.

Theme # 61: Kiss


"Oi! Timms!"

She wiped sweat off her brow, and stepped out into the sunlight. He stood at the door, rowdy Mr. Greg. Agatha knew she loved that guy, though he was at least ten years older than her - she loved her eel-farm, thought it one of the best ones, but his?

The work, the time and effort he put into his farm, stunned her.

"What do you want, Greg?" she asked, quite sourly. Because he was stubborn, would not let on that he liked her back, and she hated that.

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

Theme # 62: Lope


"Ah, Remus."

Sybill Trelawney looked up as he stepped into her office, and her eyes wore their most mystical touch of dreaminess. His lope was steady, an easy sort as he dropped into a seat opposite her but, on the inside, he was rather bored.

- He knew Sybill Trelawney, knew she never had any good news for him.

"Sybill," he returned.

"I asked you to come because I have Looked much into the Crystal Ball, lately," she began slowly. "... and what did I see? Something that concerns you, something ... dark and uninviting."

"An hour in your office?" he suggested wearily.

Theme # 63: Mooch


"You moocher," he chuckled.

Alberta's eyes narrowed in the dark alleyway. This was what he had called her here, for? To call her false names, names that were actually quite pathetic?

"You're not going to win that competition by calling me names, Wiblin. Brush up your skills." She raised her chin, left him alone.



The All-England Wizarding Duelling Competition, 1430 - winner; Alberta Toothill, runner-up; expected winner, Samson Wilblin.

She pocketed her wand, turned away. He looked furious, but she knew what had cost him this defeat - conceit, over-confidence.

Neither a mistake she had ever made.

Theme # 64: Nap


"MUM!"

Lisa Turpin - Ravenclaw sports-lover. She slid down the staircase now, skates on feet, and her mother nearly dropped her teacup as he daughter threw herself at her.

"Lisa!" she scolded. She was certainly not used to skate-hugs. "What do you think you're doing? What in the world is the matter?"

"Because I am IN!" her daughter squealed. "On the team for this month's Summer Football Tournament. HOW awesome is that?"

Mrs. Turpin smiled. But she knew she would have to take a nap, by the time Lisa's excitement wore off - yes, it was exhausting.

Theme # 65: Ooze


The cat was bored, and decided it needed a breathe of fresh air. It jumped down from the window-sill - and landed next to her cauldron, which toppled over. The pink contents spilled, oozing on to the floor, and Sacharissa Tugwood raised her voice.

"Oyster, you bad cat!"

But the cat had run off, and Sacharissa was left with the mess. She mumbled under her breath, but was not really unhappy as she wiped the floor clean with a flick of her wand - she already had a list of beauty potions to her name, and a new invention could wait.

Theme # 66: Pace


"I want that manuscript in, tomorrow!" Her boss thundered. Then she took one good look at Cassandra's face, and her eyes flickered. "Cassie ... darling, you know how tough dates are."

"I'm a Seer, not an author," Cassandra snapped. "I can't pick up my pace until the Eye inspires me!"

"But Cassie ..."

"This deal is over." She knew it would cost her, but Cassandra Vablatsky knew she was no writer - she had written one book, it had sold awesomely, and that was enough.

Unfogging the Future would be her first and last attempt to write her skills down.

Theme # 68: Roar


"The roar of the - WHAT is this rubbish?" Celestina Warbeck looked up from the file in her hands, and narrowed her eyes. "Your lyrics lose their touch and, frankly Andrei, I have no plans to sing this song."

"But ze roar of ze cars," the Frenchman gushed excitedly. "So romantic. Celestina!" - her eyes widened as he grabbed her by shoulders - "Just imagine ... ze song shall steeeer hearts! You and I, we shall be famous and zat -"

"Get away," Celestina said, with a roll of her eyes. "I'm already famous and -"

"Ze roar of ze cars," he gushed, in response.

Theme # 69: Slap


"Darling -"

Audrey Weasley glared at her husband, hands on hips. "Don't darling me, Percy Ignatius Weasley!" she thundered breathlessly. "WHAT were you doing in that office of yours, till one in the morning -"

"Audrey, I have to finish that research on -" Percy tried to cut through, quite meekly.

"Don't interrupt me!" Audrey snapped, with narrowed eyes. "Do you even care that you have a wife who -"

"Audrey -"

*slap*

He looked at her, eyes wide. "You ... you slapped me!" he spluttered, raising a startled hand to the side of his face.

"Never. Interrupt. A. Pregnant. Woman."

- and she left.

Theme # 70: Team


Her eyes were bright, and Victoire knew what her sister would say, before her sister had even opened her mouth to speak.

"Congratulations, Niq!"

Dominique came to a halt, bottle of butterbeer in one hand, and eyes wide. "How - how did you know, Vic? HOW?" She grabbed her sister by the shoulders, and gave her a good shake, she was that happy.

"Ouch, Niq, leggo ov mee --" Dominique released her - "and because you wouldn't have been this happy, if you hadn't made it on the team, silly."

"I love you," Dominique declared, throwing her arms around her sister.