Darla Park

May 20, 2007 12:28 PM

Darla Park

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The answer is, a qualified, yes by Darla Park

Darla sat in the common room on the floor leaning up against a wall as she started on her homework. Both homeworks actually. The homework her father sent over as well as her homework for here. Darla was switching off on each. She had just finished science from dad, and was now onto Charms. Darla was going to practice the Alohomora charm. She certainly needed the practice after all.

Darla wasn't very good at magic. She wasn't really good at any subject, Muggle or Wizard. That was Asher, her younger brother. She had no idea how her father expected her to get into Yale. Still, Darla didn't want her father to be angry with her. So she would practice until she was too tired to not do anything.

Last night she had been in the Cascade Hall, talking with the elves over cooking. Darla gave them a few recipies, and stayed with them until curfew. She was so into talking, Darla had nearly been late and had to run back to Teppenpaw in hopes that none of the really strict teachers would see here almost a minute until it was time to go in. Needless to say, Darla had wished she could be doing that tonight. But tonight was for homework, not cooking sadly.

Still, Darla would have to go back to the hall. She had promised the elves she would come back and talk. It was too much fun, and any child would wish fun over work. Unless they were so insane, or not childlike at all. Granted, Darla was almost twelve, and her younger brother (who was ten) was much more mature than her, but Darla pushed that off. She expected most eleven year olds, and even older, to want fun more than work.

She was in her pajamas, red long pants and a long sleeved button up shirt. Darla's black hair was down and messy, tangled down her shoulders and wet from a shower she had taken fifteen minutes before. She was biting her lip concentrating on her little jewlery box (she had the key up in her dorm). Pointing her wand at it, she muttered the words: "Alohuhmoruh," she muttered nervously, blushing when the box didn't move.

Great, Darla thought. Just great. Good thing there wasn't too many people down here now. It was late after all. Still, this was quite embarrassing.
0 Darla Park The answer is, a qualified, yes 0 Darla Park 1 5


Law Cooper

June 06, 2007 6:40 PM

Law Cooper

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but what was the question? by Law Cooper

It was kind of late when the heavyset boy finally finished the last of his homework. It has also been kind of early when he had first started it, but Law wasn't very good at this academic stuff. He had to put in extra effort just to get the grades that other people would consider average. Really, the brown-eyed Teppenpaw never minded the work, it was something he had to do, whether he liked it or not. But he really wished these things could be finished earlier- he had almost missed dinner tonight!

From one of the pockets in his brown book bag he retrieved the letter from home he had received this afternoon. The first year had promised himself he would wait to read it until after he had completed all of his homework. Law knew that if he didn't, he would probably get sidetracked, and it would take even longer to get all of the work done.

Things at home seemed to be going well. His brother Zane was still hiding homework so he could go outside and play Quidditch with the neighborhood kids, and Ted was discovering that he really enjoyed reading. Which was convenient, really, since his parents owned a bookshop. There was no question in Law's mind that Dorinda and Tim Cooper loved all of their children, but they were somewhat disappointed that their two oldest sons weren't avid readers. Law didn’t mind reading himself, he just thought that there were more interesting things he could be doing. Like sports and Quidditch.

Shifting in the oversized yellow armchair, the boy realized that there were still other people in the common room. Spotting Darla, he smiled. What with all of the work they had been getting lately, he hadn’t really had a lot of time to talk to friends.

Leaving his things on the armchair, he smoothed out his Sonora green robes and walked over towards where his friend sat.

“Hey Darla!” he greeted warmly, and then noticed the wand in her hand, “Is that school stuff or just for fun?”
0 Law Cooper but what was the question? 0 Law Cooper 0 5


Darla

June 07, 2007 1:26 PM

Darla

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Why, will Evita pull through? by Darla

OOC: :P I thought of that title when the Tarwaters' author made me listen to her musical music XD

BIC: Darla bit her lip in anger. So she'd said the spell wrong. Of course she would do that. She quickly tapped the wand on the ground and tried to pronounce it right. But of course one couldn't pronounce something right while mumbling. "-Lohomoruh, aloh- lo ha..." she probably looked insane too. Sitting in a corner tapping her wand on the ground muttering bitterly to herself.

“Hey Darla!”

Darla blushed and fumbled with her wand as the shadow fell over her and looked up, pushing her black hair away. It was just Law, he wouldn't care she was muttering stupidly to herself. Right? Darla was never sure with people, she'd thought she made a mistake when she didn't. And she thought she was fine when she made mistakes. Darla was backwards a lot with people, she rathered the house elves. Yes ma'am, thank you ma'am, no ma'am. It was simple. And she could actually cook with them! "Oh, hey Law, how are you?" she exclaimed.

“Is that school stuff or just for fun?”

Darla tapped her head lightly with the wooden wand frowning. "School, course. If it's not this school it's my dad's own schooling." Darla was surrounded by educations. It was her own curse, she had to be well rounded in every intelligence. "Trust me, I'd rather be in the kitchens with the house elves," she laughed slightly, wondering if she was even allowed in there. "Do you, by any chance, remember the unlocking spell? I can't seem to get it and I'm kinda scared I'll blow this boxie up here."
0 Darla Why, will Evita pull through? 0 Darla 0 5


Law

June 10, 2007 6:26 PM

Law

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I will not make Global Studies references... *repeats* by Law

"I'm good, finally finished with the homework," Law said, inviting himself to sit down with her, "You don't mind, right?" He didn't see any reason for her to be bothered, but you never knew with girls. He had girl cousins, after all, and he knew that while they were nice enough, they could be pretty weird.

He winced when she told him about her dad. Wouldn’t the man just give her a break? Sure he guessed that it was good to know some Muggle stuff, but having both a magical and Muggle education wasn’t necessary. In fact, most people got either one or the other, and did pretty well in life. Like his dad, for instance. His dad had a Muggle dad and pureblood mom, but his mom (Law’s grandma) died early. So Law’s grandpa had worked really hard to fit in with the magic world, so that his kids would know as much about their mother’s world as possible. And all of his uncles and aunts on both sides of the family had done pretty well for themselves with only a magical education. Muggle knowledge was more of a novelty than anything. Nice to know, but hardly important.

“Unlocking spell,” he repeated out loud as he tried to remember it, “Right.” Unlocking spell was from Charms, wasn’t it? Charms was one of his better classes, not that that was really saying very much. The wand movements were never a huge problem for him, it was remembering the incantation. Law was a visual learner. He needed to look at pictures and diagrams and stuff. Even though he lacked total artistic ability, his worst diagram was better than nothing.

But there wasn’t any way to remember incantations with pictures, at least, not any way that he knew of. So Law had been doomed to a life of never quite remembering incantations.

“I know it starts with an ‘a’ but I’m not to sure about the rest,” he shrugged, sincerely disappointed that he couldn’t help, and that he couldn’t remember the spell, “Sorry. Do you have a textbook with you? I left mine in my room.”
0 Law I will not make Global Studies references... *repeats* 0 Law 0 5


Darla

June 12, 2007 11:25 AM

Darla

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Oh don't start that! by Darla

Law sat down next to Darla, still speaking when he cut off and asked if it was okay. Well, why wouldn't it be? Darla nodded. "Of course it is," she stated, tugging lightly on her black hair. While she poked the box with her wand in her other hand. "As long as you don't get mad if I end up blowing this thing up," she added, teasing.

She fingered the science book her dad had given her, he really wanted her to get into Yale. Darla sighed lightly, it was hard to keep up with both studies, and she had a feeling with all the work that kept coming in from both sides she wouldn't be able to visit the house elves in a while. Darla wished she could be like her little brother, quick learner. He got everything finished in time and was still able to play soccer with his friends. Darla's brother was madly smart for his age, Darla was always average.
That didn't stop her father from wanting Yale for both of them.

Asher would probably be the only one to get in though. Darla would have to settle for a community probably.

“I know it starts with an ‘a’ but I’m not to sure about the rest...” Darla sighed in defeat, she was suddenly tired. And yes, she knew that. Alohhuhmara? Something like that. Oh how Darla wished she were smarter so she could remember.

“Sorry. Do you have a textbook with you? I left mine in my room.”

"No, it's okay, I'm about to give up already and just start my dad's stuff," she muttered. "I have my notes, but..." Darla opened her Charms notebook to a page of chicken scratch and doodles of nothing in particular. "... I can't even read it. And I left my textbook in well... the kitchen. " Darla blushed, now she had a reason to go back at least.
0 Darla Oh don't start that! 0 Darla 0 5


Law

June 15, 2007 5:41 PM

Law

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Clearly, studying has addled my author's brain by Law

Law smiled at his friend, glad that he wasn’t interrupting anything he shouldn't be interrupting, “You’re not going to blow up anything, you’ll get it right,” he said reassuringly. He was used to playing the parent when it came to his little brothers. He was always there to give an extra confidence boost, or to help out, and most often, to keep the two younger boys in line. Really, they were good kids, especially Ted, but both had the tendency to get a little wild, whereas Law had always been somewhat mature for his age. Or mature for a boy his age, at least.

Law had an idea. Maybe if he did the wand movements with his hand, it would help him remember the incantation, and then he could help Darla!

Slowly, he went over the movement with his right hand, holding an imaginary wand between his pudgy fingers. Still didn’t get it. Again maybe? It was worth a shot.

Aloho.

Not the whole spell, but it was more than he remembered before. “Aloho,” he muttered, as he went over the movements for a third time, “Aloho,” a fourth time. He didn’t realize how awkward he must look doing this, he was much too lost in thought. And if he did realize it, it was highly likely he wouldn’t care very much. This was important for him to know, no matter how weird it might be.

“Alohomora!” he exclaimed. Epiphany! He’d done it, he’d remember the spell. This had to count as some sort of miracle; the brown-eyed boy never remembered incantations without note cards or anything.

“That’s it, I’m sure of it!” Law declared, more confident than he ever was about school things, “Try and see if it works, and, if you don’t mind me asking- how did you textbook end up in the kitchens?” Law hadn’t even been aware they were allowed to go down there. If so, he was definitely going to be seeing the prairie elves more often.
0 Law Clearly, studying has addled my author's brain 0 Law 0 5


Darla

June 15, 2007 7:41 PM

Darla

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And musicals have to mine by Darla

“You’re not going to blow up anything, you’ll get it right,”

Darla smiled nervously, weakly. "You don't know me very well then," she muttered with a small shrug. "Cos then you'd know I'm a disaster waiting to take place." Unless she was cooking something, then Darla knew to be careful. She still laughed slightly at the comment she made so not to seem too under in self-esteem. Which... she sort of was when it came to any type of studies. Darla certainly wasn't the "A" student she was trained to be, after all.

Then Lawrence started doing an odd thing with his hands. He seemed to be pretended to cast a spell. This made Darla grin a little in humor. She didn't laugh though, he seemed to be concentrating on something and Darla didn't want him to be mad at her. She just smiled and watched his hands work.

Darla heard him say the word "Aloho" over and over, and Darla smiled wider. This time in thanks, Law was trying to help her with the spell. Oh good, she probably needed that and certainly wasn't getting it where she came from. Maybe Law could figure it out for her. Darla watched him mutter, as she smiled and hoped for the memory to come.

“Alohomora! That’s it, I’m sure of it!”

Darla smiled, yes that sounded right. Especially when Law sounded so confident in it. This time Darla did laugh, more good naturedly though rather than with humor. "Calm down, I believe you," she smiled. "It sounds right anyway, oh let me try. Just a minute." Darla turned back to the box and thought of the lock. Just open the lock with Alohomora. Right. Darla did the movements as best she could remembered, and said the spell. "Alohomora."

The box didn't move. Darla looked down and sighed, as the lock clicked and she looked up again. Slowly, she opened the toy box, and it wasn't locked. She smiled again, "Oh, thanks a lot Law!" She laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck, "I just have to practice a little more!"

“Try and see if it works, and, if you don’t mind me asking- how did you textbook end up in the kitchens?”

Darla blushed and scooted away a second, feeling very guilty. Right, she shouldn't really be in the kitchens. She shouldn't have even followed that elf to find it. How could she explain that? "Well, er, there was this elf see," Darla muttered, looking up at Law. "And he let me follow him, and took me to the kitchens. It was real fun, I like going there a lot. I can cook things there!" Darla was back to smiling, thinking of a kitchen did that to her. Even when she was ashamed of something.
0 Darla And musicals have to mine 0 Darla 0 5


Law

June 15, 2007 9:58 PM

Law

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Silly authors by Law

“Putting yourself down only makes it more likely you’ll mess up,” Law chided, “I know from experience. Think positive.”

Thinking positively was what kept Law going. Despite being heavy and awkwardly tall for his age, despite not having very much athletically ability, or being particularly good at anything, he was always optimistic. He always kept on trying, despite the odds, despite realist logic. And once in a while, he beat those odds. Like how he had made reserve keeper for Teppenpaw in his very first year. It could have been worse, he knew; he could have been completely turned away.

Law laughed self-consciously when Darla laughed, realizing that he must have looked pretty awkward, muttering nonsense and swinging his hand back and forth. But hey, it had worked. Law was slightly superstitious, and he wasn’t going to mess with a recalling method that seemed to work well for him. No, he would use it for as long as he could, until something better came along.

He concentrated on the toy box as Darla cast the spell. He felt pretty sure he had given her the correct incantation, but anything could happen. The boy really wanted for Darla to succeed. That would give her the confidence boost he was so sure his friend needed.

“Told you that you could do it,” Law grinned in triumph as Darla wrapped her arms around his neck. Usually, he got a punch in the arm or a clasp of the shoulder from his family when he succeeded at something, but this worked too.

Law laughed good-naturedly as Darla explained how her book had ended up in the kitchens. He remembered that she liked to cook. The only other person Law knew who truly enjoyed cooking (and was good at it) was his Uncle Bernard. The first year Teppenpaw liked food and eating well enough, but he’d never actually been interested in cooking. The way his mother talked about it, it sounded like torture.

“That sounds cool,” he said because he knew it was something his friend liked, “Usually elves just keep to themselves and stuff.” If anyone had a stronger work ethic than Law, it was most definitely the prairie elves. And it showed, because as far as he was concerned, the food at Sonora was excellent.

“What kind of stuff do you cook?” Law asked, sincerely curious. True, this conversation was most likely going to leave him hungry, but he wanted to know nonetheless. “Do you cook the magical way or Muggle?” He knew there were spells for charming cheeses and the like. They had a whole section for spells about food in his family’s bookstore. Of course, Law rarely ventured to that area, usually he could be found frequenting the kids books, or books about sports.
0 Law Silly authors 0 Law 0 5