#maple the house elf

[cherry-pop-elf]

Meet Maple The House Elf! 🍁

She was once part of the kitchen staff

She developed a strong bond with Belladonna, and by proxy the twins, during the school year

What solidified her compassion was the Maple Leaf necklace Bella got her. It was a “it made me think of you-!” And it finalized it

The reason she has so many burns is because she teleported Fred away from the explosion. Taking a solid amount of damage, but it over all saved his life

She officially joined Bella and George’s family when the war was over. It was one of the first acts The Headmistress gave. Setting Maple Free

Maple developed a very strong bond with Olive, given Maple joined the family not long before Olive was born

She loves jewelry, and her favorite pass time is people watching

She is often times servicing Mistress Bella, due to her health issues. When not helping her, she works in the shop.

She has freedom to do whatever she wants, and she is even learning how to say No! Strangers can’t tell her to do things and she can make choices about what she wears

Even calls people Mr. And Miss, while Mistress is reserved to Bella

Ask your questions about her!

[rottenherbs]

Something Batty // F.W x hufflepuff! Reader

Summary: You had gotten to your wits end over the winter break. No more homework to get ahead on, no more hobbies that filled your satisfaction. It was you and the empty castle. Could you attempt to write down and locate all the hidden passageways and paintings on the walls? The castle was big, but your desire for an adventure was bigger. 

Word Count: 3.4k

Authors note: reader is Hufflepuff! Honestly you could 1000% fake any of the other houses but since they are a quidditch player it wouldn’t make much sense for them not to be familiar with Fred if they were gryffindor. ((Love u)) thank you for reading. 

[masterlist]

Much Love, Saige 

—————

It was hard to describe the beauty of Hogwarts to those who hadn't seen it before. A castle, right. Large and ornate, right. Dark accademia, of course. People talk about how large Hogwarts in a way that they talk about the weather. Just boring conversation to fill the air. We all know how large it is, but you can't really fathom the amount of moving paintings on the wall, the amount of locked doors, the amount of hidden passageways, until you count them. 

You honestly couldn’t think of a better way to spend your time. It was winter break, the new year had come and gone and you had still a few weeks until classes would start once more. You missed your friends, most of them off with their families or on trips to places much warmer than the Scottish Highlands. The mountains had a distinct way of making you feel even more trapped in by snow than during the summer months.

You were absolutely, ultimately, and utterly bored.

Laying face up on your bed, you spread your legs starfish style, looking up at the four poster in dread. Another day - nothing to do. 

“Get out of bed for dear god.” You moaned to yourself. Your dormitory was empty, all of your roommates off with their families and friends. You had actually begged to stay at Hogwarts over the winter break, wanting to do it at least once over your term here, but it was more dreadful than you imagined. 

“Maybe if I stare at the ceiling for long enough I could catch the atoms moving.” You mumbled, your inner thoughts falling out of your lips. It’s not like anyone was around, you might as well talk to yourself. 

Taking a few more minutes to lay in silence, you flopped your head to the side trying to read the clock on the wall.

7:45am

Flopping your head back, you bit your lip in frustration.

”Come on.’ You encouraged yourself, slouching yourself up and over the edge of the bed. Taking your first few steps, you looked around trying to find the comfy sweat set you had gotten for quidditch practice. Tucked neatly in your dresser, you pulled out the matching set, relieved that at least over the break you were not expected in your uniforms. 

Feeling accomplished purely by changing your clothing, you grabbed your field guide notebook and shoved it in your pant pocket, making your way through the common room. 

A few students had made their way out of the bedrooms, mostly the academic students with their nose in their books. Most of the students who had stayed over the break would be asleep past lunch time, catching up on as much rest as they could before the school year starts again. 

Like most days, you didn’t recognize most of the students, giving small smiles to those who met your eyes as you kept on towards the entrance. 

The sun had just created the mountains, cascading a warm glow across the wooden pillars wrapped thoroughly with vines and plants. Part of you was grateful that you got so much vitamin d and oxygen from purely the hufflepuff common room. 

Exiting into the hallway, your senses were overtaken by the kitchens just around the corner. The smell of bacon and warm maple syrup made your stomach rumble immediately. You fought yourself to just enter the kitchens now, knowing the house elf’s would feed you in a heartbeat, but you turned and made your way up the stairs to eat in the great hall as they intended. 

Climbing the stairs, you passed a few paintings, still fast asleep in their little worlds, the sounds of their snores only faintly audible to your ears. Stopping in your tracks you decided here was as good a place as any to begin counting. 

Pulling out your notebook, you flipped to the newest page making columns for the paintings, where they were, and if they were nice or not. You thought it might be valuable to you to know who would be willing to talk to you later in case you begin to lose your marbles over the next few weeks.  

To your right was a smaller wooden frame image of a young woman, her clothes slightly tattered but still full of color. Her head rested on her hands held up by a beautiful throne that she sat on. Her crown tipped slightly with her head but not enough to warrant it to fall. Writing on your notepad; Queen (?), Hufflepuff hallway, n/a

You made a mental note to see if she was awake later to find out if she was nice or not, but knew if you woke her up now your findings may be skewed. Walking to the next panting you did the same. 

Lord Barquete, Hufflepuff hallway, n/a 

Making your way down the hallway, your notebook filled up nicely, the information slowly growing in your head more and more now that you had given the paintings more than a glance. You were amazed at the many different painting styles and the way they revealed more about the people and characters inside. Magic was interesting, but art was fascinating. 

After a half hour of writing, you made your way to the great hall, now thoroughly starving. Slapping the notebook closed, you shoved it back in your pants pocket ready to devour whatever was made for breakfast. 

“Quite the notes you were taking back there.” A voice loomed behind you. Jumping out of your skin, you turned around quickly, now face to face — well not exactly face to face — with one of the gryffindor beaters, you honestly had no clue which one. 

“Sorry didn’t mean to give you that much of a fright.” He laughed, his hands up near his chest in defense. His smile was infectious, relieving your nerves immediately. You smiled and regained your balance. 

“Fred.” He outstretched his hand, taking yours mid air. “I wasn't like.. stalking you i just saw you on the way here. I don't think anyone’s given the paintings that much attention, unwilling filch cleans them.” He smiled, his hand still shaking yours. You chuckled at his continuous action, the feeling now warm and slightly foolish. 

“Y/n — Yeah, uh I decided to write down and attempt to count all of the patinings.” You shrugged your shoulders, your hand slipping from his fingertips back to your sides. Your eyes glance quickly from his eyes to his hands, hoping he didn’t notice.

”All of them?” He scoffed.”You might be seriously batty.” 

“All of them.” You repeated, nodding your head. “I don't think I could conceptualize how absolutely bored I am.” You chuckle, turning slightly to walk towards an empty seat at a table. Fred followed, his interest in your little adventure growing further. 

“What, you don't have quidditch practice every day?” He motions towards your outfit, his eyebrow raised. 

“Do you have quidditch practice everyday?” You ask, your eyes widening at his question. Sitting down at the wooden table, two plates appeared in front of both of you. 

“Uh yeah unfortunately. They asked if we could stay back this break. Especially since my brother had just started this year he really could use the help.” He chuffed, his hands working in tandem with his words, grabbing several sausages and links to pile onto his plate. 

“Ah, it seems like fun though. Got the whole family on the team now eh?” You tipped, your eyes looking at the banquet in front of you, not knowing where to start. You grabbed the pitcher of orange juice and began to pour. 

“I’m not sure, it can sorta feel like i can't escape my family.” He mumbled, his voice slightly lower as he spoke. The words hit you like bullets, relating deeply to his sentiment. 

“I know how you feel. I wanted to stay over break to kinda — escape from it all.” You said, settling the juice down and rethinking what you said. “That sounds dramatic. I’m just burnt out, I suppose , from my family.” You shrugged, the words only touching the surface of your home challenges. 

Fred nodded his head, his fork now poking at the food on his plate. 

”I get it. It’s not bad to want to get away sometimes.” He shrugged, wanting to know more but not wanting to pry too early. He was at least happy to have breakfast with someone not in his bloodline. 

Both of you ate in silence for a minute, enjoying the food and morning light through the great hall. After Fred finished half of his plate, he cleared his throat. 

“So.” He smiled, his attention fixated on his plate. His fork twitched slightly in his hand. 

“So.” You repeated, a smile growing on your face. You weren't sure what he was about, but something in you was festering about his every move. 

“Do you think i could tag along today?” He turned, his eyebrows furrowed as if to intimate you.

”Not ten minutes ago you called me batty!” You quipped, dropping your fork on top of your plate. 

“Oh right. Well okay.” He laughed, his finger now taping his chin in thought. “I’d be alright being a little batty today.” He looked into the distance, pondering the notion. You lightly hit his shoulder, his face breaking out into a large smile. 

“Okay seriously. Ill respect your craft.” He laughed, flinching away from your hands. “Or whatever you call this little thing” his hands waved around you, the action making your hands raise again in defense, his laughter louder as you pretend to hit him once more. 

You both laughed, turning back to your meals, attempting to catch your breath. 

“Yes you may join me.” You mumbled, taking a large bite of bacon. “But!” You pointed the strip of bacon at him, mock threateningly. “We have got to finish the list eh? No funny business.” 

“Oh please. Funny business is my middle name.” He poshed, his hand resting softly against his chest. You rolled your eyes, finishing the last of the bacon before clearing your plate. 

“I suppose anything is better than being alone.” You added, watching him finish off his breakfast. He held up his napkin, flicking it out from its folden position on the table, sloppily wiping his face. You shook your head in disbelief, turning and standing up. Fred followed, his hands dusting off the crumbs from his jumper, his eyes excited as he waited for you to make the first move. 

“Where first.” He asked plainly, his hands now tucked neatly into his jean pockets. His stature was much taller than you, his height accentuated by his long legs, mostly hidden beneath school robes. 

Clearing your throat, you realized how long you had been standing in silence, looking over his frame. You turned towards the entrance, hoping to hide your red cheeks. 

“Uh, this way - “ you began walking ahead, your face scrunched slightly from embarrassment, trying your best to regain composure once you both exited the great hall. Fred followed behind silently, only the sounds of his sneakers hitting the floor in tandem with you alerting you that he was still there. 

Once you walked out of the open doors, Fred met your side, his eyes up and around the hall at the many paintings. Turning down at you, he motioned towards the small notebook in your hands. 

“So what is it that you're writing?” He asked politely, his jaunting banter from before now neutralized as he leaned in to listen. 

“Oh! Uh so, Here ill write who’s in the painting, then where they are located, and if they are nice or not.” You pointed at each section, flipping through the pages that you had written this morning. 

“Nice or not is a good touch. It’s foul to talk to a painting that just insults you for saying good morning.” He scoffs, a tinge of truth coming from his concern. 

“Tell me about it. I passed Gifford Abbot once and he asked if I had any food, I told him now, and he then proceeded to tell the portrait next to him how much of a waste the new Hufflepuff students were.” You laughed, both of you approaching a new painting. 

“That’s insane.” Fred stifled. “I love going to the kitchens. Surprised you haven't caught me sneaking in over near your common room before.” He nudged, your eyes bouncing between his face and the painting in front of you. You couldn't help but feel distracted by his personality, the thought of catching him at night making your stomach churn, or was it butterflies….. 

“You seem like the type to get into trouble.” You stated, your pencil working on the notebook in your hands, trying to not take the chance and look at the boy. You couldn't tell if he was teasing, just being playful, or something else. 

“Yeah that's an accurate statement.” He leaned over, looking at what you were writing. ”Time to find out if they're nice or not — HELLO Sir….” He moved over, attempting to read the placard by the painting's frame, the sound of his voice boomed the painting awake. “Sir Goerge Von Rheticus.” His voice faltered off as he read, the painting sitting himself up in his chair, his eyes staring daggers into Fred's head. 

“What is it that you need, boy.” Sir Rheticus spat, his eyes visibly sleepy, blinking slowly. 

“Well. Me and my partner here were just doing a study on the paintings you see.” He nudged you, urging you to finish off where he started. 

“Yes um… Me and my partner —“ you coughed, flipping though your notebook anxiously, feeling quite put on the spot - “Were wondering about the paintings in the castle. Could you tell us a little about yourself?” You asked, your fingers holding the pencil tightly above the page, waiting for his response. 

“Hmmm.” He sat back, his body a little more relaxed as you spoke. You could feel a change in demeanor when he addressed you, feeling a sense of appreciation for who he was, rather than being awoken so rudely. 

“Well.. My name is George, but do call me Sir Rheticus, I am a mathematician and astronomer. My true surname was Von Lauchen, but my father was brutally executed and my remaining family was exiled. I had chosen Rheticus from the Roman province of Rhaetia.” Rheticus spoke, his words flowing out as if scripted to recite if someone asked who he was.

Your pencil scribbled viciously at his answer, hoping to catch what you could as he spoke. Fred's body standing still next to yours, looking between your notebook and the painting occasionally, fighting off a fit of laughter as you wrote. 

After Rheticus finished, he sat with his hands folded in his lap, waiting patiently for you to cease writing. You looked up after a minute, visibly satisfied with his answer.

”Thank you. Ahem Sir Rheticus. We shall see you around.” You flipped the notebook closed, bowing slighlty at the painting awkwardly and tugging Fred along the hallway, the whole interaction very strange. 

“Are we doing that every time or - “ he asked, your hand still around his wrist as you pulled him further away from the painting. You waited till you felt comfortable that you weren’t in earshot anymore. 

“Dear god, no.” You sighed, opening your book again. “Okay… Nice?” You asked, raising your eyebrows. Fred nodded, watching you write in the notebook. He found your actions cute. This whole idea of writing down the paintings was silly but he had to admit that he has never seen anyone do it before, and you seemed like an original character yourself.

Turning down to the right you looked around, many paintings at your disposal. 

“Okay you pick the next one.” You gestured vaguely, the numerous paintings surrounding you both.  He gestured his head towards a woman down on the right near the end of the hallway. Luckily for you both, she was already away, her hands twiddling with some yarn in front of her. Fred grabbed your wrist, pulling you quickly towards the painting, his fingertips holding your skin sending hot fire through your body. 

Arriving at the portrait, Freds fingers lingered on your skin, his body noticeably closer to yours as you stood. You pulled your notebook out, moving your hands from your sides, grazing his body as you moved. 

“Ahem excuse me.” You spoke quietly, the woman’s hair cascading in front of her face. IT was red and curly, it falling past her elbows and moving as she worked. She looked up from her hands, her pale skin much more noticeable now next to her warm hair. 

“Mmm?” She hummed, her attention only on you, not looking at Fred. She didn’t seem bothered by your interruption, but her gaze felt to push you to your point of distracting her. 

“I was just doing a study on the paintings and wanted to know a little about yourself.” You motioned towards your notebook — “if you had the time i mean,” You added, your voice faltering the more you spoke. 

“Well darling, I'm the Goddess of Fertility.” She spoke plainly, her head tilting lightly. “But i can see you two are doing just fine. I can tell.” She smiled, her eyes now bouncing between you and Fred. Both of your cheeks flamed red 

“oh no i-“

”We aren’t”

“I mean we have not-”

”Not that I wouldn’t-  

“But we wouldn't-“ 

Both of you stumbling over your words, the thought of the painting hinting at your fertility was one thing, but together was another. You both fought over your words, looking at each other every once in a while but feeling immense amounts of embarrassment when your eyes met. 

“I can see things the mortal eye cannot! Do you take me as a liar?” She boasted, your calamity to her prophecy seemed to have stuck a nerve, her hands now ceasing to move in her lap, her body forthright at ridged. 

“No ma’am, we just-“ You started.

”We're not together-“ Fred finished.

”Perhaps not at this moment.” She spoke matter of factly, her hair shaking with her head as she looked at you both. The silence that filled the hallway after that sent chills down your spine. 

“Thank you for your time.” Fred said abruptly, grabbing your hand and pulling you towards the doors and walking through them quickly. Your face was red as beets from the conversation, too preoccupied at the interaction to feel the sensation of his hand enveloping yours. 

You both were hit with a freezing cold breeze as you walked outside, the feeling immediately alleviating the warmth on your skin. You took one look at Fred, both bursting out in laughter. 

“That was mad!” He chuffed, his hands on his knees, heaving in the air.

”Fertility?” You shouted, “I’m practically still a child!” 

“These paintings.” He shook his head, his body now upright, his shoulders relaxed. He laughed still lightly at you, not able to beat the thought of her implications. Was she out of her mind? Was there really something here to be built? His mind wracked as he watched you overcome your laughter, standing back up. The wind pushed your hair back, your ears and nose now visibly red from the cold breeze. 

“Alright lets go back in, you're shivering.” He motioned towards the door, his hand on the small of your back urging you forward. You nodded and sniffled as you got inside, the snow following you both as the door shut. 

“So.” He cleared his throat.

”So.” You smiled, looking up at him again. 

“Do we dare try another portrait?” He asked, his eyebrows raised, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. 

“Only if you're feeling batty .” 

[sombrashe]

Terms of Endearment

Price: dove, darling, little deer, sweet one, doll

Ghost: angel, light, sunshine, gorgeous/gorgeous girl/gorgeous boy

Soap: bonnie/bonnie lass/bonnie lad, bun, brèagha (pretty), love

Gaz: daisy, moth, ladybug, love bug, maple, butterfly

Laswell: plum, sweetheart, sugar, "my favorite garden"

Alejandro: puppy, mi vida (my life), cielo (sky/heaven), my house

Rodolfo: cariño, water drop, querida (honey), treasure, soulmate

Valeria: lovely, husband/wife/life partner, pretty baby, mamí/papí, gordito/gordita​ bebé (cubby baby), other half

Graves: darlin', lover, love bug, honey/honey ham, thighs, sweet pea, love dove, mine/my girl/my boy, airstrike König: maus (mouse), elfe (elf), mein mann/mein freund (my boyfriend/husband), meine frau/meine freundi (my girlfriend/wife), mein herz (my heart), sonnenschein (sunshine)

Roze: pika, all mine, gorgeous gorgeous, lamp shade, the reason I wake up, pine tree (if you're tall), maple berry, flower, softness

Farah: مز/مزة (hot), albi (my heart), my moon and stars, chubby/skinny, sweetness

[my-my-my]

For the Christmas Ask meme! :D

Glitter: What is the weirdest Christmas decoration you own/owned? Elf: Favourite Christmas memory?  Pudding: Name your perfect Christmas dinner!

Thank you for sending me these asks!!

Glitter: What is the weirdest Christmas decoration you own/owned?

So I answered a portion of glitter here, but I also wanted to share her:

She’s so cute, but she has a weird little dance when you press the button on her hand LOL. She does this shuffling motion and Jingle Bells plays.

I also have this frosty that watches me when I game or watch TV:

Again, image heavy, so more after the read more!

Elf: Favourite Christmas memory?

So I have two! The first one was during a Secret Santa with my cousins. When we were younger, we would do the exchanges at my aunt and uncle’s house where we would also play games, whether it be a board game, card or console. There’s 14 of us so it can get pretty rowdy lol.

One year one of my cousin’s cheated during a board game so when we played Jackbox, all of us that managed to get into the game room (if you know how Jackbox games work), would change our names to his name with some variation. Like I was “Super [name]” while another cousin was “The Better [name].” My brother was “Who’s [name]?” Lol safe to say that cousin hasn’t cheated again.

Another memory I have is during my family’s Christmas party, I always invite my friends. One of my friends is Muslim and her and my sister thought it would be funny if she was bartending (she wanted to bartend, even though she doesn’t and has never drank alcohol). Anyways she had no idea what she was doing but one of my uncle’s humoured her and gave her $50 LOL.

Pudding: Name your perfect Christmas dinner!

Ah!!! So we don’t do the traditional Christmas dinner in my family! Also just tropical island things, we eat soooo much seafood lol.

For my ideal Christmas dinner, I would have Sri Lankan crab curry and crab gravy/broth (we call it sothee/sothi). It’s my absolute favourite meal but it can get messy to eat, so we rarely eat it for holidays. My parents usually serve goat curry and eggplant curry at holiday parties with pittu (steamed rice flour with shredded coconut). I make baked salmon with asparagus and spicy maple chicken wings lol.

(I don’t have picture of my wings, salmon or the goat curry 🫣)

I love seafood so I would also get a sushi platter haha!! The platters on the right were from last year’s Christmas dinner with some friends!

One Christmas meal I had with friends, we had $1000 worth of deep fried crab and lobster (and some fried rice). IT WAS SO GOOD.

I also wanna add more desserts LOL I associate alfajores with Christmas!! I love them so much. These were some Argentinian alfajores I brought for a Christmas party (that I still think about).

I am a huge foodie hahahaha. I would so get Manal Bashir’s mocha cake! Chocolate sponge, dark chocolate ganache, espresso buttercream.

Thanks for asking these questions!!!

[whumperofworlds]

To Protect You

A/N: First time doing OC ladies in whumpy situations! I know that it's not everyone's cup of tea, so feel free to skip this story! I wanted to experiment since the only time I did that kind of thing was with Edelgard from Fire Emblem Three Houses. Also, this is my Fierce Forests OCs Hazel and Maple's debut! Anyway, hope you enjoy!

TAGS: @robinbugbanned

TWS: captivity, beaten up, blood, forced to watch, cursing, nonhuman whumpee (Maple is a Magical Elf), Whumpee x Whumpee, female whumpees, male whumpers.

_____

Days. It had been days since Hazel and Maple were taken captive by Brennus. Days of being beaten up and tortured for opposing against the king. Days with very little food and water.

Hazel could only sigh as she curled up into a ball, trying to protect herself from the freezing air in their prison. Anger coursed through her over the sheer helplessness she was feeling for those days. They took all of her weapons, including her signature Bolt Blade, a sword that was infused with Lightning magic passed down by her father. Without her weapons, she was nothing but a helpless woman who was unable to fight back.

She hated it. She hated it so much.

She heard the chattering of teeth, and she turned her head to see her best friend, Maple, also curled up into a ball to protect herself from the cold. However, judging by the chattering teeth, she wasn't able to keep warm.

Hazel crawled up to her, shivering now that she was no longer in a ball. "Hey," she whispered, sitting beside Maple. "You okay?"

Maple turned her head to face Hazel, and Hazel gritted her teeth at the bruises and cuts her best friend had on her face. Those guardsmen had given her quite the beating the past few days, and Hazel's anger grew at the thought of that.

"I..." Maple tried to speak, trailing off for a second to tighten herself into a ball. "I'll be fine, Hazel. Don't worry about me."

"You're cold..." Hazel pointed out, frowning. When Maple gave no response to that, only shivering, Hazel knew what she had to do.

She slipped off her fur coat, feeling the chilling air biting her skin as soon as her coat left her body. She placed it around Maple's shoulders, covering her with it. The coat was filthy due to not being washed for days, but Hazel figured that Maple wouldn't mind.

Maple glanced up at her, eyes wide, but no longer shivering. "Hazel, what--"

"You need it more than me," Hazel said, a small smile on her face.

"But--"

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine..." She trailed off when she felt the biting cold hitting her skin, leaving goosebumps on her. She shivered, curling up into a ball once more.

Maple frowned. She didn't have to sacrifice her own coat just to keep Maple warm. "Hazel..." Maple whispered, inching closer to her friend. "We can share this, you know? You didn't have to give it up to keep me warm."

"I said I'll be fine, Maple," Hazel insisted, shaking her head. "You don't have to--"

"I don't have to, but I want to." Maple said, before taking the coat and wrapping it around Hazel's body. It didn't leave Maple's body, as it covered both of them partly. It wasn't exactly a blanket, but it would have to do.

Hazel blushed as Maple curled up beside her to share body heat. She didn't admit this to anyone, not even her sister Holly, but... lately, she had been crushing on her best friend. She wasn't sure why she felt that way--they knew each other since they were small children, and it wasn't until recently she began to feel this way.

She shook her head to get rid of those thoughts. Now was not the time for that. She and Maple had to find a way to escape--

The door to their cell opened, and the two women jumped at the sudden sound. At least five guardsmen, all wearing golden armor, entered the cell, their weapons drawn.

Maple curled up tighter against her friend. Hazel, however, glared at their captors.

"What do you want?" Hazel demanded.

"Isn't it obvious?" One of the guardsmen chuckled, approaching the two. His sword glistened in the dark, to which Hazel shuddered. "We're here to get information out of you two ladies. Now, be good little girls..." he held out the sword close to Hazel's face. Hazel tried not to flinch at the sword's tip touching her face. "...And tell us where those damned Fierce Forests are."

"Go to hell," Hazel growled, her glare saturated with hate. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around Maple, holding her close in a protective manner.

The guardsman seemed to have noticed this and smirked. "Ah, protective, aren't we?" He chuckled. He moved the sword away from Hazel, only to point it at Maple. The Magical Elf gasped, curling up against Hazel once more. "Tell us, and we won't hurt your girlfriend here."

"Go. To. Hell." Hazel growled again, her hold on Maple tight.

The guardsman tsked, before he raised his sword. Towards Maple.

Maple yelped in fear, burying her face in Hazel's chest. She shut her eyes tightly, awaiting the inevitable blow.

The sword hit skin, and a feminine cry of pain echoed in the dungeon.

Except... it wasn't her scream.

Maple slowly opened her eyes, and she gasped in shock and horror upon seeing the sight.

Hazel had her pushed against the wall, her back facing the guardsmen. Hazel gritted her teeth in pain as her eyes were squeezed shut, and crimson dripped down from her back. Her eyes widened, and her mouth gaped open at the realization.

Hazel took the attack for Maple.

"Dammit!" The guardsman cried, throwing his sword to the ground in frustration. With a growl, he grabbed Hazel by the scruff of her tunic and tried to pry her off of Maple. However, Hazel held on, her hold tightening around Maple's body, as the Magical Elf tried to hold onto her friend.

"No!" Maple screamed, "Don't hurt her, please!"

"Shut up!" The guardsman grabbing Hazel yelled. "And let go! Or else!"

"Never!" Maple cried, her hold tightening once more. "I'll never let you hurt her!"

"Maple," Hazel whispered. Maple glanced up at her friend, whose eyes were filled with worry. Maple could also see the fear in her eyes, but she could tell that she was trying to hide it from her. Likely to not make Maple worry. "Let go. I'll handle it."

"Hazel, no," Maple gasped. "I can't let them hurt you! Please, I--"

"Maple," Hazel whispered again, this time her tone firm. "Let go. They'll hurt you otherwise. I'm strong, I can deal with it. Please, Maple... before they hurt you."

Maple gulped, tears pooling in her eyes. If she let go of Hazel... what would these guardsmen do to her? What if they ended up killing her? What if--

"Let go now!" The guardsman bellowed.

Without another thought, Maple released Hazel from her hug, and Hazel was pulled away from her. She could have sworn she saw a small, relieved smile on Hazel's face when she was taken away from her.

The guardsman holding Hazel threw her to the cold, stony floor, and Hazel grunted in pain. The cuts and bruises she had endured the past few days burned and ached, as she grunted when a sharp boot met her stomach.

"Dumbass," the guardsman who grabbed her muttered under his breath. "Should have told us where your pals were!"

The other guardsmen surrounded the swordswoman, before a rain of blows attacked Hazel's body. Each kick, punch, and strike hit her body, as she grunted and growled. Tears began to form in her eyes due to the sheer pain, but she held on. She refused to cry in front of these bastards!

Maple could only watch, tears falling down her face. She sniffled, shaking her head, as if doing so would make the guardsmen stop their assault on Hazel. However, she could only watch in horror as they continued to beat Hazel for her crimes.

A sharp boot hit Hazel's lip, splitting it, and that was when she screamed. A single tear rolled down her cheek from the blow, and she couldn't help but blush in embarrassment. Ugh, she hated crying. Even when her father was executed by Brennus, she didn't cry at all--she didn't want Maple or Holly to see her weak.

"Heh, are you gonna cry?" The guardsman taunted with a grin.

"Damn you," Hazel growled.

That rewarded her with another kick to her eye, nearly gouging it due to how sharp the boot was. Thankfully, Hazel shut her eye in time, only leaving her with a black eye. The tears she was holding back from that eye began to fall, to which her captors taunted her over.

"Look at the crybaby crying!"

"Heh, what a wimp!"

Maple couldn't look. She turned her head, tears continuously falling down her face. However, her sharp hearing could still pick up the beating her friend was getting, and she couldn't help but imagine what was happening.

Hazel smiled in relief when she looked behind one guardsman to see that Maple was looking away. Good. I don't want her to see this...

A headache began to form as she was kicked on the head a few times. But she held onto her consciousness as she saw the black spots forming in her eyes. No. She shouldn't pass out now. Not like this.

To her, it felt like hours when she was being beaten. And just like that, it stopped.

She slowly glanced up at her captors, an eyebrow raised. The guardsman who pried her off of Maple scoffed, before throwing two pieces of moldy bread at Hazel and Maple.

"That's what you get for not telling us," the guardsman growled. "We'll be back tomorrow, and if you two still want to be stubborn, we'll beat you again. This time, starting with her." He pointed at the shaking Maple, who continued to cry.

Hazel gritted her teeth, anger flowing inside her. They wouldn't! "Don't you--"

She was met with another boot to the face, this time, hitting her cheek.

"Shut up." The guardsman who struck her growled. And with that, the five guardsmen left the cell, closing and locking it behind them.

Hazel couldn't move. Pain flared up everywhere, as she attempted to get up to no avail. She heard Maple gasp before she was gently lifted to sit. Maple held her best friend close, Hazel's face buried in her shoulder, as Maple ran a hand through her bloodied hair.

"Hazel," Maple whimpered, "I'm sorry. I--"

"This isn't your fault..." Hazel whispered. "Don't blame yourself, Mape... I took the hit to protect you. I'm sorry you had to see that..."

Maple cried into Hazel's arms, and while she didn't notice it, Hazel was, too, as the pain was too much. Both of them could only hope that they would be rescued soon...

[matthew-gray-gubler-lover]

December 5th, making a gingerbread house.

It was time to build the gingerbread house or more of a gingerbread mansion as it would be. Matthew never goes halfway on anything, and that's one of the many things you love about him.

The kitchen is filled with all the candies and snacks that you will need to build the perfect gingerbread mansion. Extra tubs of icing, bowls of gum drops, M&M, Skittles, sprinkles, marshmallows, chocolate chips, pretzels. And mini-Gingerbread cookies.

Building a gingerbread house was a lot more time consuming than you remembered it to be as a kid, but you couldn't be having more fun with Matthew. Christmas music playing in the background as always, the two of you were building a gingerbread masterpiece.

Most of the decorations made it on to the house anyway. The two of you snacking on the pretzels, Mini gingerbread cookies and candies.

Then Matthew began trying to get frosting on your face, which of course he succeeded, because he's Matthew. And if anyone else, you probably would have been a little bit angry, especially when some of it got into your hair. 

But it was when he started throwing sprinkles that really made you laugh, the two of you throwing the remaining sprinkles back and forth at each other before he Finally dumped the remaining sprinkles right over your head with a big laugh and grin on his face before running off to the other side of the kitchen knowing that you were going to retaliate with more frosting on his face. 

You scooped up some of the sprinkles that relying on the counter after the sprinkle fight, chase Matthew down and threw some. Met him. You both had so much fun now, both completely covered in frosting and sprinkles in your face and hair.

 You had a wonderful day. Your gingerbread house ended up being beautiful.

Complete with a Marshmallow snowman with miniature chocolate chips for eyes, the two remaining gingerbread cookies standing at the front door and a piece of Gubler art on the roof.

This truly was a fun day. You take a picture of Matthew with the gingerbread house as he pretends to take a bite out of the roof.

"Now we're going to have to take a shower to get all this frosting and sprinkles off of us." You told Matthew.

 "take one together?", he suggested with his eyebrows moving up and down. "

Matthew, do you really want to take a shower with me right now?" you asked with a giggle.

" Well, I thought it was fun getting dirty together. So it would be equally as fun getting cleaned together" he told you with a grin. "

OK, we can take a shower together then we are going to need dinner because I need a real meal. We've been eating like Buddy the Elf all day."

"Agreed. Dinner sounds great."

The two of you took a shower together. A sweet one. Nothing happened But trying to remove frosting and sprinkles from each other 's hair. 

and then you both had dinner had dinner Spaghetti.

You're going to be eating dinner at the table tonight. Since eating spaghetti on the couch can get a little bit messy, Matthew was helping you set the table while the sauce simmers and the water starts to boil for the spaghetti.

As you start adding the spaghetti into the pot of boiling water, Matthew walks over to the refrigerator and takes out a bottle of Maple syrup, holding it out for you saying "honey I have the Maple syrup. Just like Buddy the Elf, spaghetti with Maple syrup. Should we try it?" He asks with a big smile on his face. You both laugh as he tells you. 

"Well, you said you've been like Buddy the elf all day, so maybe we should try spaghetti his way"

"That's funny sweetie, but I don't think that it would go very good with the sauce. I think we'll just try regular style tonight." you told him with a giggle.

Once the spaghetti is done, Matthew helps you put place it into bowls and put the sauce on top. You both sit down at the table and Matthew picking up a piece of the spaghetti and holding it in both hands. He told you "here put this end in your mouth and I'm going to put this into my mouth Then will meet in the middle with a kiss, just like the movie Lady and The Tramp" he told you with a smile that you couldn't possibly resist.

you did what he asked with a big smile, you thought it was so sweet & romantic just like Matthew.

After dinner, you sat on the couch underneath the red fuzzy blanket with Matthew and watched Elf. After all, it was the proper movie to watch today.

[usagirln120]

Kanao Tsuyuri: Hogwarts AU

Kanao Tsuyuri is a Pureblood witch that was born on the 19th of May 1979 and started attending Hogwarts on the 1st of September 1990, being sorted into Gryffindor House.

He grew up in a heavily abusive household and was treated like a house-elf for the most part until her parents sold her to Death Eaters that had avoided Azkaban who were hoping to turn her into a mindless subordinate to one of the 15 Dark Lords of the Wizarding World's Underground but she was saved by the ministry before that could happen.

She was then adopted by Gyomei Himejima and became the younger sister of the Kocho sisters who had also been adopted by the gentle half-giant but she still struggled with being treated nicely and often punished herself for any mistake that she did which took years for her to learn how to stop.

When she first started at Hogwarts, she felt a little left-out since her sisters were in Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw respectively (and her only friend Aoi was a Ravenclaw as well) while she was sorted into Gryffindor but she hid that under a serene smile which she fooled almost everyone at Hogwarts with.

But in her second year, she meet and ended up becoming best friends with the Gryffindor boys Tanjiro Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Inosuke Hashibira, and Genya Shinazugawa and then in her third year she meet Tanjiro's younger sister Nezuko as well.

She eventually became a member of Makarov's Army together with her friends and after graduating from Hogwarts, they went on the run together to search for Muzan's horcruxes.

While on the run, she eventually found out that her oldest sister Kanae had been killed by the vampire Doma which is the main reason why she sought him out at the Battle of Hogwarts, where she was horrified to find her other sister being killed by him and, in the end, She and Inosuke managed to defeat him together while avenging her sisters in the process (she was unaware that Douma let them win since he couldn't bring himself to kill his former stepson).

After the Battle of Hogwarts, she started working as a Healer at St. Mungos like her sisters and eventually got married to Tanjiro who she had two sons together with.

She has a Red Oak wand with a Phoenix Feather core.

Her Patronus is a Rosy Maple Moth.

Her favorite subjects are Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures.

Her least favorite subjects are History of Magic and Potions.

[superhiro-hamada]

House Tour!

Address: 249 Maple Drive, Tortuga Place

Residents: Hiro Hamada, Tad Fiske, Luca Paguro, Riley Anderson

Potentially the weirdest house in the neighborhood; current occupants are Hiro, Tad, Luca, and Riley. Plus Frodo the guinea pig and Mochi the robo cat of course.

The house is supposedly being rented (Hiro has been fully avoiding his aunt finding out that he bought it because that seems just a little suspicious when she doesn't currently know his illegal monetary sources) and is hilariously excessive in some ways and equally devoid of what most people would assume functional adult things like furniture in others.

From the front it looks fairly normal. The backyard is mostly occupied by the pool (Hiro still doesn't understand the frog statues but whatever, it's Tad's thing), the gazebo that is in fact not very useful as one, and Frodo's guinea pig run in the side yard.

Full floorplan in all it's this is too much house for four twenty-somethings to even know what to do with glory.

Touchscreen panels exist on walls in each area every level of the house that control all the electronics, appliances, lights, heating/AC and an intercom system because Hiro is extra about things. Manual controls and switches also exist because not everyone shares that enthusiasm.

There's a little robot guy who scurries around Roomba-style cleaning the floors and sitting in front of the TV watching game shows when it isn't cleaning, just chirping, cheerful little guy doing his thing.

The distinct lack of furniture is a work in progress. Unshockingly having a cohesive decor scheme was neither going to occur to the people who lived there or be accomplished since they all have very different opinions on the idea.

The house is as elf-friendly as could be accomplished (most things that might be steel are replaced with other materials) because there was a Hiro, Riley and Luca discussion about how to avoid anyone being injured just living there.

Front Kitchen/Dining Room Area

Nobody actually communicated about the chair situation and just brought things home they liked so here we are. The kitchen is mostly occupied by everyone in the house but Hiro, who is a legit fire hazard in there, but has bought every ridiculously expensive techy appliance known to man to make everyone else's life easier while they do cooking related things. And the smoothie machine that he prefers to use as his life support when the roommates are not cooking.

Most of said appliances are covered in stickers/contact paper, which makes them more chaotic but elf friendly as least because no potential steel exposed.

Living Room & Downstairs Bathroom

Truly nothing exists in this living room but a massive TV with a manual remote that disappears all the time, game consoles, a shelf fighting for its life under all the junk on it and a very mismatched set of furniture. But the rug is nice, right?

Bathroom where unnecessary tech abounds - the soap dispenser has wifi! And of course there's a control panel in there to have shower music. But otherwise bathroom, nothing overly exciting to see here.

Hiro & Tad's Room

This, apparently, is how we combine surfer vibes with cyberpunk with an unnatural amount of purple and blue. The bed was Tad's idea, the neon lights were Hiro's and somehow this monstrosity actually works. Truly a chaotic masterpiece.

The octagons on the walls can light up in places like track lighting and Hiro changes which ones (wallpaper has LED strings) often because he's bored, or likes to watch Tad randomly set them off.

Those are blackout curtains because darkness is a must when it's a sleep all day sorta day. Hiro felt that was dire.

Upstairs Landing and the Yoga Room

Moving upstairs we have the Zen Room. Or, yeah, the yoga and meditation space. Which is mostly frequented by Tad, so it's primarily become his little chill spot. Frodo also lives in there in The Shire - the most extra guinea pig enclosure, or just roams the room. Very mellow vibes.

The upstairs landing is large enough to be a room to itself and has yet to be a space actually used but maybe at some point somebody will have motivation to turn it into a library or game space, or whatever. Has not occurred to anyone to do that yet. So it remains the giant open spot.

The Upstairs Bathroom

It deserved its own entry here because look at that thing. It is huge. It is also a hybrid normal bathroom, big insane tub, and a section of rain shower fixture because even if Tad doesn't know yet there is a sea elf in the house and that requires water, Lots of water.

Said rain shower setup is unofficially Luca's panic/stress room so the rest of the house doesn't get flooded when their magic gets set off or they're having breathing issues.

Between the upstairs bathroom and the downstairs everyone in the house could shower at the same time. Choices were made.

Riley's Room

The resident starchild's room is an oasis of galaxies fit for a Celestial elf, with a heavy addition of sports decor. Part hockey shrine with a slew of their trophies from over the years, part night skies.

The window opens up out to the roof to allow for late night stargazing and time to contemplate the universe or the latest Spill gossip. Nice little retreat from the roommates too, because everybody needs a break occasionally.

A little empty otherwise, maybe they just haven't fully settled in yet?

Luca's Room

Ocean blues and seashore tans, with shelves and shelves of books and the dozens of projects that are in progress; It's an aquatic nerd haven. Also probably the most organized room in the house.

Luca's collection of gifted succulents populate an entire shelf, thriving and overseeing the rest of the room, including one particularly tall visitor who seems to stop by an awful lot.

You can't say you're not envious of that bay window with the desk; best place in the house to study or work on the next grand experiment plans.

The Basement & Labs

Where the clothes get washed, another escape to watch TV or hang out, and where Hiro and Luca keep all their workspaces behind closed doors. Do you know how much of a pain it was to add a basement to that house? Hiro does. But where else does one hide their and their bestie's secret lab?

The basement is accessible to everyone, the doorways to the labs have specific codes to open them, or in Hiro's case Mochi's collar also has a chip in it to let him come and go in his space as the cat wishes.

While they have two different workspaces, Luca's being a little more focused on science in general and Hiro's centering around robotics, they do often share space too or work on projects together in one or the other.

Yes, it is in fact practically a mad scientist level lab down there and Hiro has spent a lot of rich people he doesn't like online's money buying a lot of science toys for himself and Luca, but a bored genius is a real hazard so it's really doing everyone a favor having a space to work on his bots.

The amount of fire extinguishers around Hiro's lab specifically is truly extra, but, yanno, given his past he kinda doesn't have a great relationship with laboratory fires so he's a little paranoid. (Which does not sway him from blowing things up, at all.) Safety first, right?

@tadwisethebrave @lucathedreamer @uffdah-riley

[dawnslight-aegis]

intro/about post...thing

I keep meaning to make one of these so

welcome to @dawnslight-aegis, my ffxiv blog that is mostly dedicated to my dearest and most beloved lizard WoL, Kaede

here is a picture of her, please imagine me pulling it out of my wallet like a proud parent

anyway

I have a page for my most used tags here, Kaede's co-WoL and partner in crime can be found at @foamofthe-sea, and my fanfiction about both of them and also a couple of elf boys is primarily on AO3.

Kaede biography type things under the cut!

Name: Kaede Kazarishi (Kaede: summer maple, Kazarishi: jeweler)

Epithet: Lady Protector

Titles: Flame Captain, Warrior of Light, Champion of Eorzea, Savior of Ishgard, Traveler, and most recently, Viscountess of House Borel

Age: 25 at ARR start, 29 at EW end

Heritage/Affliation: Hannish on her father's side, Doman on her mother's. Born in the Mor Dhonan wilds, raised in New Sharlayan (birth-10) and La Noscea (11-21). Captain in the Immortal Flames, part-time resident of Ishgard.

Combat specializations: Holy Knight (PLD variant), Dark Knight, Red Mage, Light Mage (WHM variant)

Non-combat specializations: Master Goldsmith, Journeywoman Blacksmith/Armorer/Miner

Patron Deity: Halone (and Hydaelyn)

Elemental affinity: Ice/Light (primary), Fire (secondary), Wind (tertiary)

Ancient: Eos Erigeneia, she who held the seat of Azem

Soul color: Blue/pink/gold (sunrise/dawn)

Notable relationships: Marzanna Kimbatuul (best friend and fellow Warrior of Light), Aymeric de Borel (husband), Estinien Varlineau (close ally/mildly toxic bestie), Alphinaud and Alisaie Leveilleur (all-but-officially adopted siblings), Yuriko Kazarishi (mother), Roric Blackthorne (stepfather), Edmont de Fortemps (adopted father), Haurchefant Greystone (ally and former lover, deceased), Emet-Selch (complicated).

Assorted Symbolism because I think about this stuff too much

Zodiac: Libra Sun, Leo Moon, Aquarius Rising

Meyers-Briggs: INTJ (introverted/intuitive/thinking/judging)

Tree: Maple (strength, endurance, protection -- also it's in her name)

Gemstone: Rutilated Quartz (clarity, confidence, self-esteem)

Flower: White Daffodil (renewal, rebirth, chivalry)

Tarot: Strength (control, grace, strength)

have a couple of inspo memes too while I'm at it

[kiwi-tmntfan]

Y’all drink syrup?

Y’all say eh?

Y’all ride moose???

I want to carry maple syrup around so I can drink it all the time like Buddy the elf, yes. But literally maple syrup is the best thing ever I love it so much. One time I put it on angel food cake and it was soooo good!! I'd say it's even more of a Canadian thing than poutine, or at least in my mind it is,, my family is not as big on maple syrup as I am lol

I feel like the stereotype is that we say "eh" in like every sentence, but we don't say it all the time. It's more like a way of saying "do you agree?" or "right?" at the end of a sentence. Like idk "the weather's nice today eh" and then there's also "thanks eh" for some reason as well. I also feel like it might not be that common with younger people, because I've never actually said it before, but I have heard my dad and my mom say it a lot. Also I'm sure it's different across the provinces, especially to the east like Ontario since I'm all the way west in BC, but yeah it is something that we say here.

Yikes. Yeah no, moose are scary lol (not as scary as cobra chickens but still terrifying for sure). It depends on where you live, but there are moose around my house. Not right by it, but when we're heading in or out of town my mom has seen a moose twice. I haven't myself which is disappointing, but yeah. Sorry no we don't ride moose though lmao, if someone tried to they'd probably like,, die-

[shannis]

walking

My favorite thing to do is walk around neighborhoods in the suburbs.

I love all the little details you may miss when driving pass, even if you have past those houses hundreds of times.

I notice the wisteria wrapped porch. The tiny don't trend on me flags, which always make me giggle. That cute litte bunny statue hidden under your roses. The hand prints in the cement on your sidewalk. The old truck in the side yard that no one is in a rush to fix. The unused side door that is older than the rest of the house. Those interesting pink garage doors hidden behind your big hedges. The marble name plates in Hindi. That unfinished French drain. That old Christmas elf statue you left in the garden that is now covered on moss. The bright red cardinal bathing in your bird bath. The memorial stone to a loved one by the red maple. Your father perhaps? The three vertical bricks under the kitchen window against the sea of horizontal ones. The bed of broken shells under your trees. The smudges on your living room window from little hands. You need to water your gardenias. The work boots you left outside your door. Feel the stares from the teenage boy smoking a cigarette out of his bedroom window, he looks pensive about something on his mind. That tacky "It's 5 o'clock Somewhere" stepping stone in front of your door. Thousands of tiny random bubbles flying into orbit from behind an old wooden fence, a young giggle is heard. The train tracks. I used to ride my bike down this street.

[are-we-shrimping-today]

To fill the house with beautiful sounds by RomyTelesco [hockey rpf, calgary flames, toronto maple leafs]

i'm a LIIIIIITTLE biased bc i was in a groupchat where romytelesco, onegoal, and i were spitballing "what if william nylander was a ghost/elf/mildly malevolent spirit haunting matthew tkachuk in calgary as his child self" but this is honestly just the sweetest loveliest fic. in my humble opinion. child william and mattchuk cross-sharing realities, and mattchuk sort of growing with the responsibility of a baby ghost??? willy. it's so sweet and it's so lovely and i adore it with all my heart!!

[weaveth-colours-gay]

Character Profile

Mazarin of Arvis

Trans Male NB (He) | Fairy | Sorcerer | Chaotic Neutral | Gay

APPEARANCE

Late young adulthood | 4’10” (Giant) 4” (Pixie) | Small frame | Long wavy pink hair | Rosy Maple Moth wings | Dark brown eyes | Pale skin, yellow undertones | Posh English accent

PERSONALITY

Traits: Intuitive, empathic, level-headed, practical Flaws: Terse, detached, distrustful Bonds: He must avoid the call of the Feywild. He must nurture his new identity.

HISTORY

Disclaimer: I am not an expert on Fewyild lore, and should this break any of the rules or be inaccurate, I will gladly modify it.

Mazarin was born fully formed under the Aetheril House of Arvis in the Feywild. The House had close ties to the Seelie Court, and enjoyed a relatively carefree, high status existence. Mazarin lived as a girl for the duration of his childhood and a few years into adulthood, going by Mazarine. His first love was a volatile young elf named Elethis Tuessa, who had been brought to the Feywild by his tutor, Mazarin’s cousin of the air, Salera of House Ohanduan. Their relationship was rocky most of the time, and eventually Mazarin found out that Elethis was secretly working for the Unseelie court in opposition of him.

Elethis arrived at Mazarin’s family manor and killed all of the servants and courtiers as well as Mazarin’s uncle, Pavanti. He had underestimated the lengths Elethis would go to wreak havoc to meet his own ends. He managed to convince him to stop his fiery charge. Soon after Salera exiled Elethis from the Feywild for good.

Mazarin was left to pick up the pieces of the massacre, now exposed and vulnerable to the cruel fancies of the Unseelie. House Arvis was targeted for a rampage of the Wild Hunt, which tore through the manor with the aim of finishing what Elethis started. They were searching for a relic that had been stolen from the Unseelie many centuries ago. Mazarin took the relic - a mummified pixie imbued with powerful air and dark magic - and broke it two in front of the Wild Hunters. Then he left the Feywild with it.

In the mortal world, he destroyed the broken remains of the artifact, first crushing it to dust, then scattering it into the sea on the Sword Coast.

He has stayed in Faerûn since, adjusting himself in ways his family had prevented him from doing. He was now free of any expectations or niceties that shackled him in his House. He dropped the ‘e’ from his name and found a powerful transfiguration wizard to resculpt his body into its most comfortable form.

He relished life as a man, away from the Feywild. He was free to pursue his interest in the realm of psychic magic, and now wanders the earth honing his skills, and generally behaving like a fairy; causing benign mischief, mostly, in pursuit of experimentation.

[always-loving-matthewgraygubler]

December 5th, making a gingerbread house.

It was time to build the gingerbread house or more of a gingerbread mansion as it would be. Matthew never goes halfway on anything, and that's one of the many things you love about him.

The kitchen is filled with all the candies and snacks that you will need to build the perfect gingerbread mansion. Extra tubs of icing, bowls of gum drops, M&M, Skittles, sprinkles, marshmallows, chocolate chips, pretzels. And mini-Gingerbread cookies.

Building a gingerbread house was a lot more time consuming than you remembered it to be as a kid, but you couldn't be having more fun with Matthew. Christmas music playing in the background as always, the two of you were building a gingerbread masterpiece.

Most of the decorations made it on to the house anyway. The two of you snacking on the pretzels, Mini gingerbread cookies and candies.

Then Matthew began trying to get frosting on your face, which of course he succeeded, because he's Matthew. And if anyone else, you probably would have been a little bit angry, especially when some of it got into your hair. 

But it was when he started throwing sprinkles that really made you laugh, the two of you throwing the remaining sprinkles back and forth at each other before he Finally dumped the remaining sprinkles right over your head with a big laugh and grin on his face before running off to the other side of the kitchen knowing that you were going to retaliate with more frosting on his face. 

You scooped up some of the sprinkles that relying on the counter after the sprinkle fight, chase Matthew down and threw some. Met him. You both had so much fun now, both completely covered in frosting and sprinkles in your face and hair.

 You had a wonderful day. Your gingerbread house ended up being beautiful.

Complete with a Marshmallow snowman with miniature chocolate chips for eyes, the two remaining gingerbread cookies standing at the front door and a piece of Gubler art on the roof.

This truly was a fun day. You take a picture of Matthew with the gingerbread house as he pretends to take a bite out of the roof.

"Now we're going to have to take a shower to get all this frosting and sprinkles off of us." You told Matthew.

 "take one together?", he suggested with his eyebrows moving up and down. "

Matthew, do you really want to take a shower with me right now?" you asked with a giggle.

" Well, I thought it was fun getting dirty together. So it would be equally as fun getting cleaned together" he told you with a grin. "

OK, we can take a shower together then we are going to need dinner because I need a real meal. We've been eating like Buddy the Elf all day."

"Agreed. Dinner sounds great."

The two of you took a shower together. A sweet one. Nothing happened But trying to remove frosting and sprinkles from each other 's hair. 

and then you both had dinner had dinner Spaghetti.

You're going to be eating dinner at the table tonight. Since eating spaghetti on the couch can get a little bit messy, Matthew was helping you set the table while the sauce simmers and the water starts to boil for the spaghetti.

As you start adding the spaghetti into the pot of boiling water, Matthew walks over to the refrigerator and takes out a bottle of Maple syrup, holding it out for you saying "honey I have the Maple syrup. Just like Buddy the Elf, spaghetti with Maple syrup. Should we try it?" He asks with a big smile on his face. You both laugh as he tells you. 

"Well, you said you've been like Buddy the elf all day, so maybe we should try spaghetti his way"

"That's funny sweetie, but I don't think that it would go very good with the sauce. I think we'll just try regular style tonight." you told him with a giggle.

Once the spaghetti is done, Matthew helps you put place it into bowls and put the sauce on top. You both sit down at the table and Matthew picking up a piece of the spaghetti and holding it in both hands. He told you "here put this end in your mouth and I'm going to put this into my mouth Then will meet in the middle with a kiss, just like the movie Lady and The Tramp" he told you with a smile that you couldn't possibly resist.

you did what he asked with a big smile, you thought it was so sweet & romantic just like Matthew.

After dinner, you sat on the couch underneath the red fuzzy blanket with Matthew and watched Elf. After all, it was the proper movie to watch today.

[heydaytravelcompany]

Foodie Guide to EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Presented by AdventHealth 2023

It’s beginning to taste a lot like holidays! Get ready to experience traditions and cuisines from across the globe because the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth is almost here. From Nov. 24 through Dec. 30, this classic and beloved festival will be serving up delights and excitement to get guests in the spirit. This year, there are over 15 holiday kitchens filled with delicious bites and sips inspired by holiday traditions from around the world. With returning favorites like the Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl from Bavaria Holiday Kitchen and Slow Roasted Turkey from American Holiday Table, and even some new treats, like the Rugalach from L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen, guests will be gifted flavor with each and every bite. If guests are looking to indulge their sweet tooth, they simply must do the Holiday Cookie Stroll, a food stroll featuring decadent and delightful cookies from the Holiday Kitchens. As they treat their elf, they collect stamps in the Festival Passport by purchasing five of these items to redeem a special treat from Holiday Sweets & Treats. In addition to the food, a staple of the festival is the entertainment. As guests travel throughout the World Showcase, they can take the time to enjoy the holiday storytellers sharing each country’s holiday traditions. Listen to the joy of Christmas and Kwanzaa with a lively performance of JOYFUL! A Celebration of the Season or grab the whole family for some more holiday fun with Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Scavenger Hunt. As the sun goes down, don't miss Candlelight Processional – a moving retelling of the story of Christmas featuring a celebrity narrator and stirring songs performed by an orchestra and choir. Bavaria Holiday Kitchen Food Items: - Pork Schnitzel with mushroom sauce, spätzle, and braised red cabbage - Cheese Fondue in a bread bowl with steamed baby vegetables and marble potatoes - Linzer Cookie (Cookie Stroll Item) Beverages: - Possmann Pure Hard Apple Cider - The Tank Brewing Co. Prost! Festbier - Köstritzer Schwarzbier Bitburger (New) - Regional Riesling - Glühwein: House-made hot spiced wine - Beer Flight American Holiday Table Food Items: - Slow-roasted Turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce - Blackened Catfish with Hoppin’ John and comeback sauce - Gingerbread Cookie (Cookie Stroll Item) Beverages:  - Crooked Can Brewing Company Bah HOPbug IPA (New) - 3 Daughters Brewing Eggnog White Porter - Playalinda Brewing Co. Peppermint Chocolate Stout - Beer Flight Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina  Food Items: - Grilled Kebabs with carrot-chickpea salad and garlic aïoli - Lamb Kefta - Chermoula Chicken - Stone-baked Moroccan Bread with hummus, chermoula, and zhoug dips (Plant-based) Beverages:  - Bold Rock Orchard Frost Hard Cider (New) - Gulf Stream Brewing Company Holiday Snakebite (New) - Woodchuck Winter Chill Hard Cider - Fig Cocktail with fig vodka and white cranberry juice - Hard Cider Flight L’Chaim! Holiday Kitchen Food Items:  - Pastrami on Rye with house-made pickles and deli mustard - Smoked Salmon Potato Latke - Potato Latkes (Plant-based) - Rugalach: Pastry filled with raspberry jam, walnuts, and cinnamon (New) - Black and White Cookie (Plant-based) (Cookie Stroll Item) Beverages:  - Brooklyn Brewery Winter IPA - Frozen New York Whiskey Sour featuring Manifest Whiskey and Manischewitz Blackberry Wine Yukon Holiday Kitchen Food Items: - Seared Salmon with butternut squash purée, maple-bourbon glaze, and fennel-arugula salad (New) - Beef Bourguignon with crushed potatoes - Snickerdoodle Cookie made with SNICKERS bar pieces (Cookie Stroll Item) Beverages: - Frozen Joffrey’s Coffee (Non-alcoholic Beverage) - 81Bay Brewing Co. Peanut Butter Banana Porter - Playalinda Brewing Co. Maple Cookie Blonde Ale - Collective Arts Coffee Maple Porter - Regional Icewine - Regional Red Wine - Frozen Joffrey’s Coffee with Tap 357 Whisky - Beer Flight Holiday Sweets & Treats Food Items:  - Peppermint Sundae: Chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, and peppermint candy Beverages: - Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s Coffee (Non-alcoholic Beverage) - Chocolate Peppermint Shake featuring Twinings Peppermint Cheer Tea (Non-alcoholic Beverage) - Breckenridge Brewery Christmas Ale - Brew Hub Sugar Plum Red Ale (New) - Left Hand Brewing Co. Chai Milk Stout (New) - Hot Cocoa by Joffrey’s Coffee with assorted liqueurs (Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur, Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream Liqueur, or Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey) - Chocolate Peppermint Shake featuring Twinings Peppermint Cheer Tea and whipped cream vodka - Beer Flight Refreshment Port Food Item: - Turkey Poutine: Sweet potato fries with turkey gravy, cranberry relish, and crispy onions Beverages: - Gingerbread Milk Shake (Non-alcoholic Beverage) - Eggnog (Non-alcoholic Beverage) - Keel Farms Hard Pumpkin Cider (New) - Pasek Cellars Cranberry Wine - Gingerbread Milk Shake with Whipped Cream Vodka - Firenog: Eggnog with Fireball Cinnamon Whisky NEW! Swirled Showcase Food Items: - Mickey-shaped Liquid Nitro Cake - Soft-serve in a Waffle Cone: Vanilla, apple-cinnamon, and salted caramel - Cream Soda Float with vanilla soft-serve - Fanta Grape Float with vanilla soft-serve Beverages: - Frozen Apple Pie (Non-alcoholic Beverage) - Cinnamon Apple Cider (Non-alcoholic Beverage) - 3 Daughters Brewing Toasted Coconut Porter - 3 Daughters Brewing Toasted Coconut Porter Float with salted caramel soft-serve - Berry Fizz Fragolino Red Sparkling Wine Float with vanilla soft-serve NEW! Bubbles & Brine   Food Items: - Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with prosecco cocktail sauce and grilled lemon - Jonah Crab Claw Cocktail with stone-ground mustard sauce Beverages:   - Moët & Chandon Impérial - Veuve Clicquot Rosé - Dom Pérignon NEW! Wine & Wedge Food Items: - Assorted Artisanal Cheeses and Accompaniments - Boursin Fig & Balsamic Soufflé with fig tapenade - Southern Pimento Cheese with bread-and-butter pickled vegetables and grilled bread - Artist Palette of Wine and Cheese: Assorted artisanal cheeses and accompaniments paired with Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese, Hartley Apple Brandy, and Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port Beverages:   - Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese - Hartley Apple Brandy - Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port - Flight NEW! Char & Chop Food Items: - Roasted Porchetta with lemon-parsley salsa verde and shaved fennel salad - Grilled IMPOSSIBLE Spicy Sausage with herbed polenta, puttanesca sauce, and ricotta - Meat Assorti: Trio of shaved meats with baby arugula, pickled mustard seeds, truffle oil, and grilled ciabatta Beverages:  - Krombacher Pilsner - North Coast Laguna Baja Vienna Lager - Motorworks Brewing Midnight Espresso Coffee Porter - GoGi ‘Birdie’ Pinot Noir - Bloody Mary with Seaside Grown Bloody Mary Mix and Kurvball Barbecue Whiskey - Beer Flight Refreshment Outpost Food Items: - Peanut stew with sweet potatoes, mustard greens, and roasted peanuts (Plant-based) - DOLE Whip Raspberry Beverages:  - Ciderboys Caramel Apple Hard Cider (New) - 81Bay Brewing Co. Cinnamon Orange Cranberry Ale (New) - Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. Gingerbread White Stout (New) - Pumpkin Spice Ginger Cocktail featuring Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka (New) Nochebuena Cocina Food Items: - Tamale with chorizo, plant-based cotija cheese and spicy red chile sauce (Plant-based) - Pernil: Mojo pork with tostones and ketchup-mayonnaise - Spiced Chocolate Cookie (Cookie Stroll Item) Beverage: - Ponche Navideño: Mexican Christmas punch with apples, pears, guava, oranges, dried hibiscus, brown sugar, tamarind, cinnamon sticks, and clove (Non-alcoholic beverage) (New) - 81Bay Brewing Co. Horchata Beer Holiday Hearth Desserts Food Items:  - Mint Chocolate Mousse Wreath (New) - Apple Caramel Crumb Cake (New) - Chocolate-covered Toffee Brittle (New) - Red Velvet Mini Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Icing - Salted Caramel Spaceship Earth Cookie - Mouse Crunch made with M&M’S chocolate candies - Peppermint Pinwheel Cookie (Cookie Stroll Item) Beverages: - Hot Cocoa by Joffrey's Coffee (Non-alcoholic Beverage) - Frozen Caramel Hot Chocolate with TWIX cookie bar pieces and whipped cream (Non-alcoholic Beverage) (New) - Wicked Weed Brewing Jack Frost IPA (New) - BrewDog It’s a Beaut Stout (New) - Wicked Weed Brewing Milk & Cookies Imperial Milk Stout - Peppermint Cocoa: Hot cocoa by Joffrey’s Coffee with peppermint schnapps - Beer Flight Le Marché de Noël Holiday Kitchen Food Items: - Crème de Saumon Fumé en Brioche à l’Aneth, Concombre: Cream of smoked salmon in house-made dill brioche bread with cucumber (New) - Rôti de Jambon Sauce Moutarde à l’Ancienne, Patate Douce Rôties: Roasted ham with mushrooms, pearl onions, bacon, mustard sauce, and roasted sweet potatoes - Bûche de Noël au Pain D’Épices, Ganache Chocolat au Lait et Noisettes: Gingerbread Christmas log with milk chocolate and hazelnut ganache (New) Beverages: - Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini: Grey Goose La Vanille Vodka, vodka, chocolate milk, and whipped cream - Le Joyeux de Noël: Vodka, Grey Goose Vodka, cold brew coffee, sea salt caramel toffee, and peppermint (New) - Blood Orange Mimosa: Pol Remy Sparkling Wine, orange juice, and blood orange (New) Tuscany Holiday Kitchen Food Items: - Montanara: Fried house-made pizza dough with pomodoro sauce, parmesan, and fresh basil (New) - Farfalle Salmone Affumicato: Farfalle pasta with smoked salmon and cream sauce (New) - Torta Caprese: Flourless chocolate torta with chocolate sauce and vanilla cream (New) - Dolce Pizza: Fried house-made pizza dough with sugar and cinnamon (New) Beverages:   - Prosecco - Moscato - Chianti - Italian Sangria (Red or White) - Italian Margarita with tequila and limoncello - Peroni Pilsner Shanghai Holiday Kitchen Food Items: - Chicken Skewer with creamy peanut sauce - Beef and Noodle Soup Bowl with slow-braised beef shank, green onion, and house-made chili oil - Vegetable Spring Rolls with citrus sauce Beverages:  - Bubble Tea: Classic milk tea with black and white boba pearls - Brew Hub Year of the Dragon - Dragon Fruit Lager - Butterfly Lantern with butterfly pea blossom gin, vodka, prickly pear, lychee, soda water, and boba (New) - Kung Fu Master with vodka, triple sec, mango, orange juice, and soda water - The Lucky Mo with citrus vodka, peach schnapps, piña colada mix, orange juice, and soda water Shi Wasu Holiday Kitchen Food Items: - Sushi Tree: Sushi roll with krab meat and cream cheese topped with Aonori seaweed, Ikura salmon roe, and spicy mayonnaise - New Year Celebration Soba: Buckwheat soba noodles in a hot dashi soup with yuzu, shrimp tempura, and chopped green onion - Sweet Potato Mochi Cake: Gooey sweet potato mochi cake with purple sweet potato cream, strawberry, black sugary syrup, and sesame seeds (New) Beverages: - Ichigo Milk Boba: Cranberry and yuzu cream drink featuring Japanese calpico soft drink and popping strawberry boba pearls (Non-alcoholic Beverage) - Japanese Christmas Punch: Shōchū, plum wine, cranberry, and lemon - Choya Sparkling Plum Wine (New) - Sapporo Premium Beer Las Posadas Holiday Kitchen Food Items: - Giant Tostada de Chorizo: Giant tostada with chipotle black bean purée, ground chorizo, salsa verde, queso cotija, crema Mexicana, and pickled onions (New) - Tamale de Barbacoa: Shredded barbacoa beef in a corn masa topped with mole negro, queso cotija, crema Mexicana, and pickled onions (New) - Dulce de Leche Churro sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar Beverages: - Apple Margarita: Centinela Blanco Tequila, apple purée, black tea-cinnamon cordial, and Nixta Corn Liqueur topped with whipped cream and holiday salt (New) - Horchata Margarita: Cinnamon-infused Ilegal Mezcal, Abasolo Corn Whiskey, Agua de Horchata, and cinnamon-horchata rum - Holiday Cerveza: Mexican Artisanal Craft Lager with black curran liqueur (New) Funnel Cake - Holiday Cinnamon Celebration Funnel Cake topped with powdered sugar, vanilla ice cream, cinnamon cookie crunch, cream cheese whipped cream, and gold dust inspired by the culinary treasures of the Kingdom of Rosas in Disney’s all-new animated musical film, “Wish” Connections Café Food Item: - Holiday Sugar Cookie (Cookie Stroll Item) Connections Eatery Beverages:  - So Many Wishes: Pomegranate-green tea, hibiscus, lemon, and a dash of star dust (Non-alcoholic beverage) - Coquito Milk Shake (Non-alcoholic beverage) - Coquito Milk Shake with Bacardí Superior Rum Sunshine Seasons Food Item:  - Jingle Sugar Cookie made with M&M’S chocolate candies (Cookie Stroll Item) Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company - Horchata Cold Brew: A holly jolly blend of Joffrey’s Shakin’ Jamaican Cold Brew and horchata topped with whipped cream and cinnamon (Non-alcoholic Beverage) (Spirited version available with Creamy Spiced Rum) What a delicious holiday season we have ahead of us! (Note: All offerings are subject to change and availability.) Read the full article

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Girls Club | Chapter 3

Chapter 3 | Racing luggage carts

Amèlie’s POV

“Miss Amèlie,” a soft voice spoke and another knock echoed throughout the room. “Breakfast is about to be served,” the soft voice spoke again, who must’ve been the house elf Hix, Amèlie concluded.

“I’ll be down in a minute,” the pale blonde haired girl said.

Amèlie stood up and straightened out her brown plaid pencil skirt. She walked over to the full length mirror in the corner of her room and looked herself over. She adjusted the collar of her short sleeve turtleneck and finished her outfit by adding a simple black headband.

She walked down the hall and down the main staircase leading towards the main hallway. Her black loafers echoed against the hardwood floor as she walked towards the dining room. The table was already filled with an array of breakfast dishes. Narcissa was already sitting at the opposite side of the table, sipping her coffee. Despite the woman’s best efforts, Amèlie had noticed the look of distaste cross her face.

“Good Morning Mrs. Malfoy,” Amèlie nodded towards Narcissa.

Narcissa only acknowledged the girl with a small ’mmph’. Amèlie took a seat at the nearest side of the table, diagonally across from the older woman. The blonde served herself a cup of black coffee alongside a portion of pancakes with a healthy dose of maple syrup.

Halfway through the meal the two had been joined by Lucius Malfoy. He strolled in with his long cane in hand. His presence alone made Amèlie straighten her posture and swallow the last bite of her food.

“Good morning Mr. Malfoy,” Amèlie said, looking towards the man for a response.

“Yes, good morning,” Lucius drawled out. “I hope you’ve packed everything,” he sneered at the girl. “Nobody will be sending you anything,” he glared towards her but Amèlie glared right back.

“I won’t need any of your ‘elp,” Amèlie said with a bite to her voice. “You will not need to worry about me,” she snapped in her french accent. She stood up from her seat, offering a lousy excuse before storming back up to her room.

No matter how unhappy with switching schools Amèlie was, she couldn’t wait to leave the Malfoy Manor. She used to think that her moms last husband was horrible. She could have never expected what her own father was like. She already knew that he was never very fond of her but for the past two months she had lived with him and his family, she knew it was more than that. He absolutely despised her.

Lucius Malfoy saw Amèlie as nothing more than a mistake from his past and she was convinced of that. Not that she really cared. She would have continued not to care too if her mother hadn’t passed so soon. If it had only happened a couple years later when she would have been of age. At least then she wouldn’t have her entire life flipped upside down.

Amèlie continued to pace around her room. Double even triple checking that she had packed everything. She wanted to make sure she didn’t leave anything valuable here. She didn’t trust any of them enough to do so.

~

Amèlie had dropped her main luggage off and was only left clutching her designer leather handbag. She was left with a couple more minutes before she had to board the train. She watched as Lucius and Narcissa fussed over Draco as he boarded the train. Narcissa was adamant about giving him a kiss on the cheek but the boy kept resisting. Despite her distaste for the pair, the interaction made something in her stir. She wished her own mother was here to see her off.

Once Draco disappeared off into the train, Lucius turned around in search of the girl. She knew he’d have something to say to her. It was the only reason she hadn’t boarded the train. She braced herself for the interaction as he made made his way over to her.

“Now you listen very closely,” Lucius said through gritted teeth, tightly gripping onto the teenage girl's forearm. “I don’t care what you do,” he growled. “But I don’t want any letters from the school complaining about you. And whether I like it or not,” he muttered lowly. “You have my last name, so don’t embarrass me.”

“Oh there is no need to worry,” Amèlie spat back as she pulled her arm out of his grip. “I will make it clear that we have nothing in common,” she added and pushed past him, making her way onto the train.

She stormed past many people and compartments. Simply walking in a blind rage. She hated that man so much all she wanted to do was get away from him. She had finally slowed down in one of the last train cars and settled in one of the empty compartments, closing the door shut behind her. She sat down in one of the seats and let out a deep sigh. She leaned her head back, blowing the few extra strands out of her eyes.

Catherine’s POV

Fred and George had offered to help push the luggage on the carts. Seeing as the group was already running slightly late for the train it made sense. However despite Catherine’s best efforts she was struggling to keep up with the two. Ginny was doing much better at trying to keep up.

“Oi!” one of the twins yelled from up ahead. “If you don’t hurry up Cathy we’ll be late!” he added but the twins were too far away for her to be sure which of the two had said it.

“I’m trying my best!” Catherine said, jogging to try and catch up. “I���m not exactly ten feet tall like you two!” she complained which only earned a laugh from Ginny.

“Just get on then,” one of the two said and turned himself and his luggage cart around.

“What?” Catherine asked. “What are you talking about?” she asked once the two had caught up to each other.

“Just take a damn seat and let's go!” it was Fred who had ushered her onto the stack of suitcases.

Catherine quickly clambered on top of the luggage holding onto the handle of the cart behind her. Fred began to speed up which only caused the curly haired girl to tighten her grip as she laughed hysterically at the boy's antics.

“You two better catch up!” Fred panted just as we passed George and Ginny.

The taunt urged the two to form their own team. Ginny quickly made her way onto the other luggage cart and George did his best to try and catch up but Fred had already gained too much speed. Catherine continued to laugh as everyone else on Kings Cross was ushering out of their way. They rushed straight through the wall between platform nine and ten, Ginny and George hot on their tail.

As they were transported onto platform nine and three quarters, Catherine ended up flying off the cart and into the floor. Fred managed to fall right on top of her and the baggage was strewn about.

“Get off,” Catherine groaned and shoved Fred off of her.

With a groan Catherine managed to get to her feet. All their things were thrown about, Ginny and George were also sprawled across the floor trying to get their bearings together.

“You two okay?” Catherine asked as she helped Ginny onto her feet.

The three started picking up their things while Fred remained fast down on the ground. He flipped himself over to the other side and let out a dramatic sigh which gained him a glance from the other three.

“What? No one is going to help me up?” Fred asked as he began to sit up, pouting at the three.

“You fell on me,” Catherine accused, which quickly shut the boy up. “Anyway,” Catherine said, turning to get her carry-on bag. “I’m going to go and try to look for Rory and Nora,” the brunette explained as she made her way towards the train. “I’ll see you at dinner Ginny!” Catherine waved as she boarded the train.

“Oi! You’ll see us too!” Catherine heard the twins yell after her to which she only shook her head.

Catherine pulled her tote bag higher up onto her shoulder and continued to trek down the halls of the train in an attempt to find her friends. She had eventually found the two in the line to the trolley.

“There you are,” Rory said at Catherine’s arrival. “Rough morning?” Rory asked as she took a look at Catherine’s mess of curls.

“We all left late,” Catherine said and attempted to flatten down her hair. “And then Fred and George raced the luggage carts with Ginny and me on them,” Catherine laughed as she thought of events that took place not too long ago.

“Here you go,” Nora said, turning towards the two. “ Pumpkin juice for Catherine, orange juice for Rory and pumpkin juice for me,” Nora passed out each girl their drink and led them away from the trolley. “Let’s go look for a compartment! I want to hear all about that race,” Nora grinned and pulled Catherine by the arm down the hall, Rory following closely behind