tea time. [marauders']

[michelle]

Fighting her way out of a mountain of pillows with a teacup hooked over her finger was quite a difficult feat, especially with a fort as impressive as this one. Despite the fact that it had not won the battle an hour earlier, it was still a force to be reckoned with. Finally managing to clamber out, Alice conquered the flurry of feathers that littered the floor and tripped only once over her roommate who was sprawled somewhere in the mess. She stumbled toward the door, shouldered it open, and stepped out into the staircase, allowing a quick fist pump of victory before launching herself into the common room. Feathers trailed her at every step, loosened from her dark curls and pajamas as she nearly flung herself into the hallway. Off to the kitchens, to begin the quest for more tea.

She changed her pace to a slow and careful saunter, always aware of how much louder even the slightest sound was when it encountered the rought stone walls of the castle. Alice bent her head toward the tea cup cradled in her hands as she maneuvered the passages, allowing the slightest glance up at every other turn. The castle was more familiar to her in the dark than it was when it was bustling with students because she was always more alert on her nightly expeditions. Finally annoyed and unable to see anything in her tea leaves, she swiped away the dregs with a finger and trailed it across the wall, tracing her route until her finger encountered the gentle grooves of a picture frame. With a practiced hand, she scratched at the rotund figure of the pear and stepped beck as the door swung open. The scents that flooded her were all the welcome that she needed. Stepping swiftly through the door, she seated herself on a stool, offered a smile to the house elves, and slammed the tea cup onto the counter, a little harder than she had intended to.
"Fill 'er up!"

[Sarah]

Rubbing his eyes, Jordan groaned to himself. Why did he have to try and take so many classes this year? That was a question often asked by his friends, but now he was asking himself. Especially Astronomy. It required him to stay up late and that wasn’t his thing. Well, at least he had Connor for company. Connor was insomniac or something. He rarely slept at night and instead took many naps during the daytime. However, tonight Connor wasn’t much fun to be around. He was unusually quiet and seemed like he was always thinking. Jordan didn’t blame him, though. He was pretty depressed about the break up, after all. Right now, though, Connor was asleep, which was even worse than his moping.

Jordan had just finished stating aloud his observations of the night sky to his quick-notes quill. He decided that tomorrow morning he would write out the essay with his notes. Jordan put away his quill and parchment and began to leave, when a soft snore erupted from Connor. Trying not to laugh, Jordan walked up to his mate and shook his shoulder. “What, what is it?” Connor asked, half asleep and quite rapidly. Softly laughing, Jordan told him, “You fell asleep. I’m finished and heading back to my dorm. See you,”
Jordan left Connor and walked down the many steps of the Astronomy Tower. While walking down, his stomach’s grumbles echoed. I guess I can stop by the kitchens, quickly, before sleeping, Jordan thought and detoured to the left, instead of right, after he reached the end of the steps.

From there, Jordan took many of the moving staircases down to the kitchen’s level, where the portrait of the fruit was located. He quietly walked up to it, looked around if Filch or his dreadful cat was around, and tickled the pear. The door opened a bit, and Jordan slipped through it. An elf, named Vilky, squeaked up to Jordan, “Master Knight would like some cookies?” holding out a platter of cookies. “Oh, sure. Thanks,” Jordan replied, taking a bite out of a chocolate chip one, before adding, “And, just call me Jordan, please,”
Vilky, nodded and said, scurrying away to the other house elves, “As you wish,”
Jordan looked up and saw a familiar face. “Hey, Al. Isn’t it past your bedtime?” Jordan teased, walking up to her with a wink.

[michelle]

Alice settled comfortably into the atmosphere a she watched the house elf pour tea into the cup without her having requested anything. She was such a frequent visitor that the house elves didn't even bother taking orders and took it upon themselves to provide a kettle of blackberry tea whenever she stopped by. Alice's hands clutched the tea cup and she leaned forward, letting the steam and warm scent wash over her face before bringing the cup to her lips, a satisfied expression resting somewhere in the corners of her upturned mouth. The kitchen was unquestionably one of her favorite places in the castle, if only for the comforting feeling that always seemed to inhabit it.

Just as Alice lifted the tea for another sip, she heard the familiar creak of the door as it opened. That creak always seemed so inevitable and even Alice has trouble avoiding it when she snuck in. She swiveled in her chair and was relieved to see Jordan. He was always welcome company. Alice offered a smile and leaned her elbows back onto the counter, regarding him with a raised eyebrow that made her amusement evident. "Do people who never sleep really need a bedtime?" she queried, indicating to the stool next to her with a wave of her hand.

[Sarah]

On the other hand, Jordan was not a frequent visitor of this part of the castle. He has been here at least twice or thrice. but that was it. He was quite amused at how the house elf knew his name and also amused at the rest of them scurrying around. 'Did they ever sleep?' he wondered. He shrugged the thought off as he finished his chocolate chip cookie and another elf came up to him and croaked, "Some hot chocolate, Master Knight?" holding out another platter with a single mug on it. "Er, sure," Jordan said, taking it. "Thanks, by the way. And Jordan's fine," Jordan said. He felt awkward being called 'Master Jordan'. He took a sip of the hot chocolate and it immediately burnt the tip of his tongue. "Shit," he muttered as he walked over to Alice. He sat down on the barstool next to her's and placed the mug down on the counter to cool a bit.

"Yes, Alice. They do. It's not healthy," Jordan replied, jokingly. He looked over to her and smiled. "Had a pillow fight?" he asked as he pulled out a feather from her hair. There was a bowl of mini marshmallows nearby and jordan guessed that all the food here was for them and so he picked up a few and plopped them into his hot chocolate. "So, how have you been lately? Haven't had time to catch up with Quidditch and all," Jordan asked, making small excuses. Quidditch practices hadn't increased and their homework was the same. He just hadn't had the time to chat with her.

[Dea]

Damocles rubbed his face.
Christ, it was late.

He slid out of bed, and stretched.
He hadn't had anything to eat, do to...Things.
Yes.
Things.
He made his way out of the common room, and down to the portrait.
He tickled the belly of the pear.
Why the belly?
Why not...the top?
Maybe it was some sort of pervy pear that enjoyed being tickled by children and elves.
Well that was a disturbing thought.

Giving one last questionable glance at the portrait, he stepped into the kitchens.
The little elves were still busy at this time of night.
He admired them for their loyalty to the cause of feeding people.

Tinkle, the elf Thalia had befriended a few years ago, was one of the many still working.
'Master Belby!' She squeaked, scurrying up to him, holding an eclair. Her bat like ears twitched.
'Thanks Tinkle,' he mumbled, taking the pastry. His voice was still thick with sleep, and he leaned against wall. He then noticed two others were in here as well. That was new.