Theme # 01: Herbology


The envelope bore a big, silver seal, and Apolline could only hope that it brought good news.

It did.

Looked like her last year of study, had not been a waste. Apolline knew she had a love for nature, but she had not been too sure if it would be worth it, to study magical flora in detail. Sure, the inner satisfaction was awesome, but would this guarantee her the type of job she wanted?

She did not have to worry about that, anymore. Because the Most Extraordinary Society for the Promotion of Herbology had accepted her as a member.

Theme # 02: Muggle Studies


To say that she was happy, would be an understatement. Apolline knew she would miss her friends, but there was no doubt she was thrilled to attend the British Academy for Witches, as an exchange student.

"They offer Muggle Studies," the fifteen-year old told her mother, as she picked up her silver hairbrush, and raised it to the top of her head. Her own school did not. "Languages, too. I could take French."

"But you're already excellent at French, darling," her mother looked up from her knit-work. "It's your mother-tongue."

"Guaranteed O, then," she laughed.

Theme # 03: Transfiguration


There was a knock at the door, and Apolline quickly stepped forward to unlock it.

"Darling -"

"Five minutes," she replied, automatically.

"You look pretty," he commented, as she smoothed out the creases in her silver, silk gown, and picked up her socks.

"I always do. Can't find my heels."

He waited, impatient. Five minutes later, he had decided this was enough. Drawing out his wand, he pointed it at the socks she held, and transfigured them into fancy, glass slippers.

"Francis!" she exclaimed. "These are gorgeous!"

He swept into a bow. "Anything to make you smile, Princess."

She laughed.

Theme # 77: Cheerful


Apolline cheerfully hung up her coat, as she stepped into the Silver Witch's Hair Salon, a box of shears tucked under one arm.

"Ah, Apolline!" a very French lady, seated at the far end of the salon, exclaimed, at once. "I have been waiting for you. It is my sister's wedding, if you remember - you were sent an invitation, of course."

"Countess Summers," Apolline acknowledged, politely. She knew this lady was hardly ever satisfied by how any hair-stylist, save Apolline, did her hair. "I have the perfect hairstyle in mind, for you."

The Countess beamed.

"Surprise me!"

Theme # 04: Ancient Runes


They were quiet, as they walked. The moon was out, a big silver dot in the black sky, and Apolline's hair shone in its light.

"It's ancient magic," Francis spoke up, as he slipped the stained, steel bracelet round her wrist, and fastened the little clasp. "Protection against evil. I know it's not very pretty, but will you please wear it?"

There were tiny runes engraved on the inside of the band, and Apolline inwardly thought it was a beautiful piece of jewellery. She came to a halt, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him on the lips.

Theme # 05: Astronomy


There is nothing as exasperating as a kid who will not listen, on purpose. Apolline shook her head to herself, as the tall, rather handsome boy stepped into her office.

"Fez," she began.

"It's Mr. Parkinson," he said sulkily.

Right. Apolline motioned for him to sit down -- he did not. "Mr. Parkinson," she checked a sigh. "May I ask why you thought it fit to transfigure your astronomy textbook into a hive, and set it on your classmates?"

"You're not our astronomy teacher," he replied vaguely. "Your subject is Magical Flora."

She wanted to chuck something at him.

Theme # 78: Author's Choice


There was a half-empty mug of black coffee on the glass table, and unwashed dishes in the sink. Apolline slipped her feet into her fuzzy, silver carpet slippers, and dragged them down the stairs.

"Flower, did you knock over the dustbin, again?" she muttered sleepily, as she dropped the day's newspaper on to a table, and unsuccessfully attempted to tidy up the house. "What in the name of Merlin is that terrible smell?"

She waited for a response, but none came. Apolline shrugged to herself, and sank into a couch. Fever was, she decided, not nice at all.

Theme # 59: Ignore


Sunlight streamed in through the wide window, and Apolline rubbed her eyes as she sat up. Had she overslept?

She had. Trying to ignore the guilt she felt - she had promised her mother she would help her tidy the house, this morning - she rose to her feet. Which was when an owl flew into the bedroom.

"Hi, Turtleneck," Apolline said, randomly naming the owl she did not know. "What do you have, there?"

'Turtleneck' apparently had a letter on him. Apolline detached it from his leg, flipped open the envelope -- and a little piece of silver metal fell out.

"Prefect?!"




For Liishaterz, who picked the theme.
*cling*

Theme # 06: Divination


Apolline had never had any sort of flair for Divination. She could scrape by with an E every time, and yet she did not think she held any real promise, as far as this subject was concerned. She poked her silver teacup with the tip of her wand, now, wondering how tea could possibly tell you how many kids you were going to have.

"Miss Fournier?" the Divination master wore a frown. "Are you paying attention, to my lecture?"

"I am, sir. Even though my teacup has told me me it sees no use for me in this class, twice."

Theme # 07: Care of Magical Creatures


It was fun, to be an exchange student. Apolline could not say she did not miss her friends, but she was the type to live life to the fullest, and that was exactly why she had put everything else aside, and dived right into the bright side.

"Care of Magical Creatures," she read out loud, as she was handed a timetable. Well, that was new. Back at her own school, they had Magical Flora and Magical Fauna. The former of which, she was quite excellent at.

She shrugged her shoulders, folded the timetable, and dropped it into her silver schoolbag.

Theme # 98: Pyjamas


It was six in the morning, when Apolline was awoken by a loud noise. She sat up, and ran a hand through her messy, blonde hair.

"Whozere?"

No response.

She shrugged, and was about to go back to sleep, when there was another crash, this time louder. With a frown, the young woman got out of bed, and walked down the staircase, in her silver pyjamas.

"Who," she asked, looking round the empty dining hall. "In the name of Merlin, is making that noise?"

A small cat with big, blue eyes stepped forward, and rubbed its head against her slipper.



For Racheh, who picked the theme.
*hughugs*

Theme # 08: Potions


She had a big, silver hoop in one ear, and Apolline crouched low as she sneaked - late - into Potions, and slipped into a seat at the back.

The Potions Mistress paid her no heed, and Apolline was glad that she had not been spotted. "You will remove the stirrer, bring your potion to a boil, and lid your cauldron. Is that clear?"

Everybody nodded.

"Very good," the teacher said. "You may begin - Miss Fournier?"

... and she had thought she had not been spotted. Apolline bit on her lower lip, then sat up straighter. "Yes, professor?"

The teacher grinned.

"Nice earring."

Theme # 30: Feast


Food and Apolline Delacour were good friends - she could enjoy a scrumptious meal, at two in the morning; and whip up a feast fit for kings, half an hour later. Stay awake while at it, too.

She laid down a rolling-pin, now, and wiped at her forehead with a gloved hand, her hair twisted into a knot at the back of her head - and held there, with a big, silver clip that she had quite a liking for - to keep it out of the way.

"Cooking?" her mother asked, as she stepped into the kitchen.

"Having fun," Apolline corrected.

Theme # 09: Defense Against the Dark Arts


It was her second day at the new school, as an exchange-student, and the first time she would sit a Defense Against the Dark Arts class, here -- and Apolline wore red shorts, as she stepped into the classroom.

"Miss Fournier!" The teacher, a wrinkled man with steel-rimmed, round glasses, stared at her in part-shock, part-astonishment. "What is the meaning of this, young lady?"

"I thought it would be fun to learn the waltz, for a change, sir," Apolline said brightly, as she waved two, cotton-candy-like pom-poms at him. "April Fools' Day, and all!"

Theme # 10: Arithmancy


It happened, as if in slow motion - Apolline set down her newly-finished, Arithmancy essay; and the cat that had been seated on a nearby sill jumped down -- right on to her desk.

There was a cry of 'no,' as a silver inkpot flew into the air, and fell back down, on top of her homework. The lid came off, and ink began to leak over her assignment. The cat realized that it had done something bad, and made a run for it - and Apolline sank into the nearest chair in the library.

-- The essay was due in fifteen minutes.

Theme # 44: Ford Anglia


She needed sleep, but it did not look as if it that were possible, right now. Apolline shook her head at the toy Ford Anglia her granddaughter was strapped in.

"Victoire - darling -"

This was Fleur, trying to pacify the little part-veela, who held an empty, plastic saucer in one hand, and kept banging it on the dashboard of the self-steering car. "Stop that, sweetie, you're disturbing grandma -"

"Let her be, Flower."

Fleur looked up at her mother. Apolline shook her silver head, and grinned - she remembered the stuff Fleur had often been up to, as a child!

Theme # 11: History of Magic


It was not the weather outside, but the one inside. Apolline felt like spring, today. She peeked out of the window, in her carpet slippers, watching the sun try to peer at her, from behind a wrap of floaty, silver clouds. It did not succeed, but that did not matter. Apolline had detached herself from the window-pane within seconds, tiptoeing out of her bedroom, and down the mahogany staircase.

It was spring. Francis would be back home, and it did not seem to matter that Fleur had barely passed her last History of Magic test.

She was spring, today.

Fourth Wall Mini-Challenge

Theme # 12: Charms


Welcome to my closet! I know I shouldn't be aware that you are watching me, but I am. Which is why you are more than welcome, to stay and have a peek into my life, while I try to find my new, silver earrings. I know I placed them in here. Hopefully, I can find them before the dance, tonight.

Oh, and while you're here, would you like to see the old set of charms, that I found in the store? There's a lock, several bells, and two rune-stones. Pretty, I know. I like them, too!