|
Post by Felicity Hjort on Aug 14, 2007 12:36:02 GMT -5
When proposed with the idea to allow another to join in their festivities to bring in the New Years, she was pleasantly surprised to note not even a little fight was put up. Of course, the young blonde didn't think anything of it, rather she was too pleased with their allowance of the idea that she didn't think that something could possibly be planned.
The morning of the Eve of New Years, she finally realized, being much too oblivious, that something was indeed planned. Actually, a large something was planned. Her mum had been working on a party for the entirety of the Hjort family, and their neighbors. Apparently, there'd been a rumour floating about that Felicity had been left behind in a freak accident having to do with Seagulls, and the neighbors didn't believe she'd been sent to a boarding school.
So, with the joy of holiday season, not only would the normal family be joining, but so would the rest of her large family, friends, and neighbors. Oh, what joy.
Felicity had been told to tell Drew he was allowed to arrive after seven and would be allowed to stay until 2, which should have been the first clue that something wasn't quite right. But alas, she didn't pick up on such a clue.
Six-thirty, six-thirty-five, and she was still running around nervously upstairs, cleaning every bit there was to be cleaned before finally at six-forty-five heading downstairs to help with the preperation of plates, upon plates, of food. Some were snacks, others were snacking dining foods, many were treats and desserts.
Loud voices were coming from all around, many of the family members having shown early to help in preperations. Some games were being set up for the young ones, and a card table being set up in the living room. Most of the furniture had been 'put away' upstairs, really it'd been shrunk by her mum and the pieces left were put in a safe place upstairs.
Felicity had been nervously wringing her hands, keeping her long-sleeved blue shirt stretched by pulling on the sleeves. Her hair had been tossed into loose curls, at her pleading to Lindsey who'd arrived early as per usual. Thankfully her cousin had been more than willing to help her with her inability to do such things.
It was nearly seven, ten to, and she was hoping Drew just might arrive a few minutes early. She'd been asked to take Winthrop and Freddy to her father's store with her, to pick up some cream and a few other odds and ends to finish off some of the platters of heaps of food her mum had, and to make sure her dad really did leave on time. Of course, it wasn't a matter that he didn't want to, but it was more of a matter that his customers wouldn't be willing to leave when they should.
Making sure Winthrop listened and had on his hat and gloves, she quickly pulled Freddy own attire on, and was slipping on her own gloves when she heard the knocking on the door. Anticipation built, she threw the door open, only to be disappointed that it was one of her mum's friends, a witch who preferred living in the muggle world.
After a quick gretting, she pulled her boots on, re-opened the door with Freddy attatched to one hand, a disgruntled Winthrop unwilling to cooperate and running back into the home away from her. She decided to just leave the boy there, and turned on her heel with Freddy, only to run into something that was a little squishy, but more solid than anything.
((CLOSED PLEASE))
|
|
Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on Aug 15, 2007 3:14:50 GMT -5
{Drew took so long getting to Felicity's because he decided he needed to do some extra sit-ups if he was being described as "squishy"}
It was his second date with Felicity in a week and Drew was feeling good. The fact that her parents had given him permission for the whole evening was huge in his eyes and he got ready that evening with quite a bit of confidence, only feeling the need for two showers this time.
Again came the dilema of what to bring as a house gift. Allegra suggested a bottle of wine, pointing out that it was very traditional for the holiday and pretty standard in general, but Drew nixed the idea quickly. He really didn't think Mr. Hjort would appreciate his underaged daughter's boyfriend showing up at the doorstep with a bottle of booze in his hand. By getting a couple of Aunts into the conversation, Drew had settled on a wreath of bread (traditional both in Mexico and the UK he found out) and a bag of chestnuts. A potted plant had been so last week...
Wow... he was Felicity's boyfriend. The thought of it felt great but at the same time it was a bit frightening. Had she mentioned that little detail to her dad yet?
So maybe he wasn't so confident about the evening, feeling like he was in for a bigger interrogation than he had gotten the previous date. The only difference was this one was more likely to end up with him strung up.
He shaved carefully, a record third time in a week, and put on a clean white shirt and a pair of slacks that the house elf had been nice enough to press for him. He pulled on a blue wool sweater (How many did he own? He wasn't sure), combed his hair and gathered his offerings before standing in front of Allegra for final approval.
"You know, you aren't at school. You don't have to wear blue," she teased, fixing the ribbon she had tied at the top of the bag of nuts.
"What's wrong with blue?' he asked thinking his choice had very little to do with house loyalty.
His sister smirked and told him to be good, a bidding he was pretty sure he could keep. He in turn, told her the same, adding his regrets to Ari for missing her party. Drew just hoped the seventh year understood.
It wasn't a long walk to Felicity's and as he reached her door he raised his hand to knock, only to have the door opened before him and a pretty blonde run smack into his chest and into the loaf of bread. It had been wrapped, but it was still warm and now it was pretty flat. "You okay?" he asked, grinning down at her in surprise, more worried about her than his offering at the moment.
|
|
|
Post by Felicity Hjort on Aug 15, 2007 3:29:32 GMT -5
((Never said it was Drew Felicity ran into...besides, it looks like the bread saved Drew from having really the need to do a few extra sit-ups ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) )) Taking a quick step back, her free hand moved up to her freckled nose as she began rubbing at it. Why did it seem her nose was always managing to get the brunt of hits? At least it hadn't hurt, Drew was pretty soft, even if he didn't like to think so. Shaking it off with a small laugh, she bit down on her lip lightly and smiled at the blue-eyed boy. "I'm fine," she told him. "You know, you didn't have to bring anything. Mum will appreciate it though," she stated, seeing the gifts in his hands. They were nice choices, things her mum would like, they'd do well to be shared at the party she was throwing. Glancing back into the house, she wondered if she might be able to pull Drew along with her to the store, or if her mum would find a way to keep him right there. It was a tough decision to make, whether to allow him in the house and be surrounded by the Hjorts there, or to drag him along to her father's work with her. Sighing softly, she looked down at Freddy, maybe he would work well in this situation. "Freddy, love?" she called his wide-eyed attention to her. "Would you mind running these things in really quickly, and then coming back so we can go to Grandpapa's store?" With the quickest of nods, the boy held his hands out to Drew, almost as though he were still afraid of him stepping on him. At least if Freddy left for a quick moment, she could get in a good, quick greeting to Drew without his prying eyes. But only if no one else showed up in those few moments.
|
|
Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on Aug 15, 2007 11:00:32 GMT -5
Freddy looked so expectant that Drew couldn't resist handing over his offerings, but the older boy wasn't very comfortable with the suggestion that Freddy take the things in.
"Shouldn't I go say hi to your mom and dad first?" Drew asked a little nervously. A mere hour ago he had been fairly confident about the evening and now, things just didn't seem to be going right. He knew that the Hjorts did things slightly different than his family, but still he wasn't sure about going anywhere with Felicity without them knowing he was there.
|
|
|
Post by Felicity Hjort on Aug 15, 2007 11:34:19 GMT -5
"Mum won't mind, in the least bit. She's busy at the moment, and if you go and say hello to her, she'll find a way to keep you here while Freddy and I run to dad's store." She didn't figure Drew would like her suggestion, keeping him from greeting her mum and all, but really, if she did let him, he'd be stuck there with who all was currently there. He'd either be scooping dip into dishes, slicing cheese, or putting crackers into quite a formation.
"And Freddy and I are going to go get dad, as well as a few things for mum's...party," she said hesitently. Felicity hadn't exactly told Drew about the party yet. Turning her attention back to Freddy she smiled told him to hurry off.
"You see, mum's been planning a party for tonight, and she didn't tell me about it," she told him once Freddy was out of earshot. Sure, Drew was usually pretty understanding, but she didn't know how he'd react to this bit. "I guess everyone wanted to get together, and a lot of our neighbors missed me while I've been off to boarding school. So, mum thought a party was the best way for me to run into everyone, for them to see I'm alive and well, and to get out of the spotlight quickly. She doesn't like it when I'm the talk of the area, and right now their talking about how I didn't really go to a school among a few other things."
Her words were rushed, hoping he'd understand. "And you'll get to meet a lot of people tonight. My family and some of mum's friends will know about us not going to the school most of them will think I've been attending, but you'll get to meet some of my friends, and a whole lot of other people."
No, she didn't think that was the greatest thing in the world, but she really did hope he'd understand. Stepping closer to him she carefully slid her arms around his middle, having told her family that yes, he was her boyfriend now. Tilting her head back to look up at him, she smiled and softly said: "And it'll guarantee an easier time for us to be alone at midnight."
|
|
Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on Aug 15, 2007 12:09:37 GMT -5
Drew had actually assumed there would be a gathering of some sorts, and while the addition of neighbors surprised him a little, the actual party did not. Then again, with the number of people who lived in the Hjort house, even an ordianary day would seem like a major get together.
"You're sure she won't mind?" Drew asked, not very sure himself. His mom expected at very least a quick hello when he had friends over. "I mean, if your mom needs help, I don't mind," he continued, not wanting to appear rude, especially to Felicity's mom. He wasn't keen on the idea of being left on his own, but he was sure he could handle it if it came to that. He knew the title of "new boyfriend" was shaky ground and he really didn't want to blow it this early in the game.
But Freddy had scampered off and the best Drew could do was call after the small boy to give his regards and apologize for the squashed bread.
As Felicity revealed the plans he just nodded, pretty sure it wouldn't be anything he couldn't handle. The way she spoke of "boarding school" he knew there would be Muggles present and he had no problem acting Muggle.
She stepped closer and put her arms around him, an act that made him nervous that her parents would see, but strangely relaxed at the same time about the whole evening. Midnight, huh?" he asked with a smile. "I was trying to figure out if I could get that bit to work out or not."
|
|
|
Post by Felicity Hjort on Aug 15, 2007 12:32:35 GMT -5
"Believe me, she has more help than she can handle as is," she pointedly told him. Felicity wasn't about to go into how much help she had. Among cousins, aunts, and children, a few of her mum's friends had popped in early to help with what they could. If Drew even dared go near the kitchen, he'd be a goner for sure.
"And really, you'll be greeting one of them in a few moments. Once Freddy comes back, we'll go to dad's store. He's the one who is going to need a greeting. Mum really won't mind, and I'm sure Freddy will say something to the effect of a giant being on our front door step," she teased him. At least he didn't seem to mind the idea of what her mum had implemented.
"Work out?" she asked, a light question to her tone. "Do you really think I'd be able to go all night with people being curious about you, asking whispered questions, and not figure out a way to fit in a little celebration as such? A tradition?" Smiling, she pulled him closer and gave a quick kiss to his lips. Actually, if she didn't find a way to keep herself busy at midnight with him, she knew she'd be tossed into the shark pool and bounced around with all the other people in the home, each one wanting to get a good luck, bringing in the new year love.
Freddy returned, tugging at Felicity's coat, his wide blue eyes still on Drew. "Lissy, are we goin' to Grandpapa's?" he asked in an almost whiney tone. "Grandmama said to make it quick, and she wants 'oney too."
Felicity dropped her arms from around Drew, and pulled Freddy right off the ground into her arms. "Love, it's honey, you need to put the H on there. And yes, we are going to Grandpapa's store, right now."
|
|
Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on Aug 15, 2007 13:02:13 GMT -5
"Oooo... a preview?" Drew asked with a quick grin as she kissed him. "So anything I have to know about this school of ours?" he asked, wanting to make sure he didn't blow any story the Hjorts had said in case he was asked. Most things like studies, parental careers and future aspirations, he was pretty good at fudging, but there was always something else to trip you up.
Freddy returned and things looked like they had gone well inside. Drew's things had been dropped off and they were obviously off to the store. "So how's it going Freddy?" he asked, offering his hand out in a greeting so Freddy could shake or high-five it.
|
|
|
Post by Felicity Hjort on Aug 15, 2007 13:24:49 GMT -5
A preview? Felicity hoped that wasn't even half of what she'd be able to get in at midnight. "Nothing too extraordinary. It's a nice place up in Norway, obviously for both genders. I'm in on a scholarship, because believe it or not, I got really good grades in muggle school," she told him with a wide grin. Really, she got pretty good grades at Hogwarts, too, but her wandwork made some things really hard. "They don't specialize in anything, but they are technologically up-to-date. I think, really, that's about it. If anyone asks you for more detail on something, I guess just make something up, and make sure to let me in on it."
Freddy, as suspicious as he was of Drew's intentions as a giant pretending to be a human, eyed his hand very carefully. He'd spotted Felicity hugging him, but that didn't mean he wouldn't be eating Freddy's hand. Then again, he'd shaken his hand last time he came over to take Felicity to the Fesiful. Slowly, hesitently, he held his hand out and shook Drew's, then quickly yanked his hand from the giant's grip. He was so much smarter than any giant.
With Freddy in her arms, she shifted him about a little, and managed to free her hand closest to Drew and slipped it into his. The store wasn't a far walk, as close as Diagon Alley was, only in the other direction. When they entered the little store, the same one her dad and mum met at, she heard the distinctive bell ringing that always took place, as well as Freddy's laughter.
Clambouring down, the boy set off for the office, where he was sure he'd find his beloved Grandpapa and a bit of candy. It didn't seem there was anyone in the place, which made it easier to drag her father home for the party.
Pulling Drew along, she waved at her dad in the office, and then set off down the aisles, in search of the few things her mum had requested. Eggs, butter, cream, milk, honey, sharp cheddar cheese (apparently they didn't have enough with four blocks, not including the amount of other types of cheese they had), and a few other odds and ends.
"You'll get to greet him in a minute, I promise," she told the Ravenclaw. "I just want to collect these things, because that'll give him time to finish what he's doing, then he can ring us out and lock up." Just a few more things, and they'd be set to go.
|
|
Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on Aug 15, 2007 13:50:50 GMT -5
He was glad he had asked about the story because if anyone had gotten him into a school discussion, Drew would have assumed the school was still in the UK. Of course, maybe actually being in the UK made keeping that story up more difficult. Back home, when he said he was at a boarding school in Scotland, no one questioned it. "I sure hope I'm not expected to know Norwegien," he told her with a grimmace. He felt he could fake just about anything else besides that.
Freddy still seemed awfully suspicious about him, but he didn't let it bother him to much, loosly shaking the boy's hand and letting him drop the grip easily. Thornton men were all tall and used to peole being wary of their height. Drew just hadn't quite expected to get the reactions when he was still on the short end of the family gene pool.
Felicity led the way into the store and waved to her father, Drew calling out his own greeting to the man, "Hello, Mr. Hjort!", as she pulled him along. Being in tow as he was, the man had to have seen Drew and the Ravenclaw really couldn't ignore the man. "Do you need me to do anything?" he asked, feeling a little helpless and awkward at the moment.
|
|
|
Post by Felicity Hjort on Aug 15, 2007 14:09:42 GMT -5
"You won't be," she replied, matter-of-factly. "I don't know it, and I doubt anyone would expect it out of us. My parents chose Norway because no one we know has any connections to it. Therefore, it's a good choice." Even Celina had been well-warned of it, just in case the girl was allowed to visit for a short while. Felicity's family knew the truth, but it was a precaution in case someone else was at the home while she visited.
"You could hold onto these, if you wanted..." the blonde trailed off, handing out a couple if things. Really, it wasn't a problem to her, and she knew exactly where everything on her mum's list was, which made it all that much easier for her to just go down aisle after aisle and grab things. Otherwise, she might've sent Drew off on his own to get a few of the items.
Things collected, she walked to the register counter. While it was her dad's store, she still was required to cash out, and it looked as though the man was busy still in the office, at least until he glanced up and saw the two standing there.
Hurriedly, he pelted out of the office, Freddy in tow, and began ringing them out. "You know, you can tell a lot about a person by the things they buy at a store," he directed his comment at the young man. "Let's be thankful this is my wife's list of items, not yours."
With an almost pleasant smile about his own jest, he cashed them out, and walked over to lock the doors, leaving them to bag the stuff. His first task done, he grabbed the cash drawer and headed back into the office, took a few moments to finish up, then returned pulling his coat and scarf on.
"Let's be off, shall we?" he asked his daughter, holding an arm out to her and his other hand to Freddy.
|
|
Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on Aug 15, 2007 18:38:51 GMT -5
Drew took hold of the groceries and followed Felicity to ring out, placing them on the counter as Mr. Hjort appeared. As the man rang the items up, Drew fell to bagging, grinning at Mr. Hjort's joke. "Nothing wrong with a good quiche, sir," Drew answered, noting that they had pretty much just bought the right ingredients. The honey didn't match, but that had been a late addition to the list, hadn't it?
As the store got locked up, Drew placed the last of the items in the bag, making sure the eggs were safe. As he hoisted the bag in one arm, he held back, waiting to follow the others back to the house.
|
|
|
Post by Felicity Hjort on Aug 16, 2007 21:47:46 GMT -5
A quiche? Who said anything about the items actually having to add up to anything? Really, individual items were enough to go by. And Ib had gone through many years of grocery management to know how to tell a person by the items they purchased. At least he already knew his wife and didn't have to analyze the things on her list.
Tucking her arm in her dad's, she smiled back at Drew a bit curiously. In her own opinion, there was no reason for him to hang back as he was, but in a way, it made sense to her. Exiting the store, Freddy began begging of the older Hjort to sit on his shoulders, only to win his case when Felicity let go of her father's arm so Freddy could have his way. And really she didn't mind, especially as it meant she could freely walk with Drew, and maybe he would feel a bit more comfortable walking with her if she wasn't attached to Ib's arm.
With the groceries in his one arm, Felicity carefully slid her arm around Drew's free one and allowed her other to wrap around and let her hand clutch at his arm. Her father knew of their relationship, therefore, there was no reason not to walk with him that way, right?
The walk back was lively, with Freddy chattering away about the things he wanted to happen in the New Year. And Mr Hjort hardly did much but glance back at his daughter and her boyfriend now and again, mainly checking to make sure they hadn't slipped off and left the bag sitting behind.
Arriving back at the Hjort home, Ib held the door open to allow the three younger ones to enter, as well as hung back to greet a few others making their way to the celebration.
Once inside, Felicity made sure Freddy didn't take off with his coat still attached, and slipped off her own outerware attire before offering to take the bag from Drew so he could do the same.
|
|
Celina Jedynak
Ravenclaw
Seventh year
Because it just took time, before a bird's wings could heal again.
Posts: 6
|
Post by Celina Jedynak on Aug 16, 2007 22:21:50 GMT -5
This was unexpected, and if it hadn't been for Elizabeth Jedynak, Celina would never have been caught dead at the Hjort household. Not because Celina didn't want to attend the Hjort New Year's party that she was invited to by Felicity's mum, but because Alfonz would have never let her go, and her father....well, Celina and Elizebeth had decided not to mention it to her father. He was still a bit ill from the fall, and the Jedynak women were not about to disrupt his health with such a little detail as the blood purity of the Hjorts. Elizabeth stood at a proud five foot, seven inches and was probably the nicest woman one would ever meet. Unlike the Jedynaks, Elizabeth had a kind demenor that helped her greatly as she worked as a healer at St. Mungos. Her long dark hair fell further than the middle of her back, much like Celina's, and her light green eyes, were almost as astonishing as her beautifully healthy and glowing skin. She had pout lips, and a somewhat pinched face. She smiled excitedly at Celina as they neared the front door to the Hjort household. "It's quaint," Elizabeth said complimentary. Celina nodded and smiled as well, thinking that this would be an exicting change than what she had been through most of the holidays. As they neared the door, they stopped just before it and Elizabth gently turned her daughter towards her. "Now, understand me. You must behave, and do introduce me to your new friends. I'm so glad that you've made some. Isn't it exciting to have people you can talk to?" Celina smiled and giggled a bit. Her mother's tone was a mix between excitment and worry. Celina could only ignore the worry, however, and nod. "I want you to meet them, I do! They're so great, Ma'ma." Standing and looking Celina over, Elizabeth nodded admiring the outfit her daughter had picked out. Under her navy blue robes, was a pair of nice black slacks and a blue fluttery shirt. Celina would have worn pink, but found that the pink shirt she had to match the pants didn't quite match the blue frilly hair clip she had in her hair. "You're so beautiful, Celina. It almost makes me tear up," Elizabeth said as she started to wipe the corner of her eye. "Ma'ma..."Celina trailed off rolling her eyes. She turned toward the door and nervously knocked on it. Celina had only heard about Felicity's family...she didn't actually think she'd be meeting them so soon. ( Celina's mom)
|
|
Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
|
Post by Drew Thornton on Aug 16, 2007 23:00:34 GMT -5
The walk back to the Hjort home wasnot nearly as long as it had been to the store, but it didn't matter much to Drew considering he had Felicity on his arm. He smiled as Freddy rattled off ideas, finding the kid funny as most his age were.
The house already seemed crowded with more people than the last time Drew had visited and the boy was pretty sure not everyone was related... at least he hoped not. Felicity took the bag from him and he was finally able to take off his own outer things. He stuck the gloves and hat in one of the coat pockets and hung everything in the same spot he had used last time before turning back to Felicity and grinning.
Showtime...
"You want me to carry that?" he asked, offering to take the bag again as a knock on the door sounded.
|
|