[identity profile] c-macaulay.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] hh_mirror


Sunday evening finally came, and with it, the appointed time for the dinner Camilla was giving to fulfill the Hat's bribe request. She did not have very high hopes, but the guests had been chosen with an eye to congeniality, so it should not go spectacularly awry. The wild card was the Sorting Hat itself, who had been duly invited as well.

Camilla was used to cooking by herself or with her brother Charles and her friend Francis, neither of whom were at Hogwarts, which was probably a good thing (in the case of Charles, a very good thing indeed, but one that certain exchanges at her Sorting had made her wary about). She found that the kitchens of Hogwarts were not conducive to this task, and ended up perched on a stool reading Tess of the d'Urbervilles while the house elves prepared the menu she had chosen, plus a dish intended for her vegetarian guests.

More elves readied the empty room she'd chosen, clearing cobwebs and making of it something not unlike a dining room, if you ignored the chalkboard on one wall. To herself Camilla could admit some awe at the gravity-defying candles, which somehow managed not to drip hot wax on everything beneath.

She already knew her guest list was down by one. An owl to Dawn asking whether she could borrow a copy of Liddell and Scott had returned to her some time later, dazed and tired, the message still clutched in its talons and sealed shut. While she had looked forward to getting to know the girl better, this made the task of determining seating a little easier. Camilla was unsure whether the Hat considered itself male (in which case it should sit to her left) or female (in which case it should sit to her right). In the end, she decided to assign it maleness in those terms. She wrote place cards herself, in that oddly jaunty hand, and the usual maroon ink. Really, if you were going to have more than six guests, and they didn't know one another well, you needed place cards. The formality of the gesture was tempered by the fact she'd used ruled index cards folded in half.

The seating was thus:



A last check on the kitchen elves' progress, and Camilla was ready to receive her guests. She looked as though she hadn't really worried about the evening: she wore a standard school uniform, mindful of the Hat's remarks at her Sorting, and she still carried carelessly in one hand her paperback of Tess. Looks can be deceiving. She did want to have friends here, of a sort, and she definitely did not want to anger the Hat.

Date: 2006-10-23 01:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] average-adam.livejournal.com
Realizing that Camilla intended this to be a formal dinner party - his first - Adam dressed with much more than the usual care, putting on a nice shirt that his mother had bought for him, along with sharp black trousers and dress shoes. He made an attempt to comb his bright blond hair - thankfully not so curly now that he'd cut it short, but still unruly - washed his face and brushed his teeth.

Just as he was leaving his dorm room, he suddenly realized that people usually gave gifts to the host or hostess on these sorts of occasions. His mum and dad usually brought a bottle of wine, but he didn't know anything about how to choose one, and the elves could have given her all the wine she wanted anyway. Concentrating for a moment, he thought about an appropriate gift until he held a wrapped package in his hands. With a happy step, Adam headed for room 202.

When he arrived, he knocked and pushed open the door. Very glad that he took the time to dress up when he saw the surroundings, Adam smiled as he caught sight of Camilla. "Hallo. It looks amazin' in here and you look even better."

Date: 2006-10-23 01:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] average-adam.livejournal.com
"I think they're just hoverin'. But all this magic stuff's pretty amazin', huh? Like in the books you read when you're a kid and you always wanted so badly to be true." That thought made Adam pause for a moment, but then he shook his head and held out the box. "I brought this for you." Inside was a cute stuffed griffin about a foot long, with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.

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Date: 2006-10-23 02:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ugly-old-hat.livejournal.com
The Hat, anticipating a lovely dinner party, made sure to eat only 4 pastries rather than its customary 6 at its afternoon tea in the Headmistress' office. It was therefore very hungry by the time it spoke the password to the Fat Lady in the portrait. It floated through the entrace, looking about approvingly at the changes Camilla has made to the room, then smiling brightly at its hostess.

"Hello, Miss MaCaulay! Thank you for inviting me this evening! You've done a wonderful job with the place!"

Date: 2006-10-23 03:08 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ugly-old-hat.livejournal.com
"Ah, but you must have given them direction, and that you have done very well." The Hat gives her a looking over. "Why thank you, Mi-- Camilla. And you may call me Hat, of course. I must say I'm very happy you've chosen to wear our school uniform. As I mentioned, so many of our students do not these days. And it suits you quite well!"

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Date: 2006-10-23 02:43 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] robinthepuck.livejournal.com
Robin arrived at the dinner party a suitably polite ten minutes early. Carrying a small hostess gift under his arm, he sketched a slight bow to Camilla and pressed her hand to his lips, smiling up at her. "Madame MaCaulay. I thank you again for your gracious invitation." Straightening, Robin handed her a small, leather-bound book. "The work of Catullus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catullus), in its original Latin (http://rudy.negenborn.net/catullus/about_cat.htm)." The Puck shrugged, looking a little bashful, and grinned. "Very few people in this day and age can appreciate Catullus' work. You struck me, though, as someone who would enjoy it. I hope I am not overstepping my bounds to say so."

Date: 2006-10-23 11:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] robinthepuck.livejournal.com
Delighted, Robin returned her wicked look and murmured, "Vivamus mea Lesbia, atque amemus, rumoresque senum severiorum omnes unius aestimemus assis!*" Then, with a laugh, he bowed again. "Camilla it shall be, then, if you request it. Far be it for me to deny my lovely hostess anything she desires." It was rare for the Puck to find someone to match him in conversation or in wit, someone who appreciated the ancient languages and poets. Suddenly, he was very much looking forward to this evening.

---

((*Let us live, my Lesbia, and let us love, and let us judge all the rumors of the old men to be worth just one penny!))

Date: 2006-10-23 04:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] violet-veracity.livejournal.com
Violet opened the door tentatively. She hadn't been to a party in what felt like ever, and as such was unused to the kind of social interaction that parties entailed. At least she'd brought a present. "Hello, Miss Ma- Camilla! I brought somesweet potato, onion, and apple gratin (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/234797) that my sister sent me. I hope it's all right, she's an excellent cook..."

Date: 2006-10-23 05:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] brenda-johnson.livejournal.com
Brenda was, as usual, running late and a little flustered. (How she managed to stay in this condition when she no longer had a busy schedule driving her was one of life's little mysteries.) She was wearing the chiffon skirt and sweater-set she'd arrived to school in, now freshly laundered, and had managed to acquire a hostess gift.

"Hello, Camilla - may I call you Camilla? Afraid I got a little lost. Oh, but these (http://www.beneva.com/product.cfm/iteID/1629) are for you," she said, handing the gift over.

Date: 2006-10-23 05:35 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] brenda-johnson.livejournal.com
"Oh, I'm glad you liked them. Trust me, I had to - my mama would never let me hear the end of it if she thought I hadn't brought a hostess gift." She grinned. "Looks like you've got a pretty good sized group, and - oh, my, the candles! I don't think I'll ever get over that."

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Date: 2006-10-23 10:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] marius-p.livejournal.com
Marius had dressed with unusual care, in his one good suit of clothing, and, after several ridiculous attempts at Transfiguration, managed to turn a bunch of twigs into a lovely bouquet of flowers.

After several terrified moments in the corridor, spent staring at the door because he was unused to company and wasn't sure if he was able to be amiable or not, he gently knocked on the door. "Mademoiselle Camilla?" He bowed formally and held out the bouquet. "I thank you for your most kind invitation. These are for you."

Date: 2006-10-23 10:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] marius-p.livejournal.com
Marius blushed and bowed again, as he had no idea what else to do. He had very little experience with women, and, in fact, people in general. "I am glad you enjoy them, Mademoiselle."

As he couldn't think of anything else to day, he took off his hat and went to sit down.

Date: 2006-10-23 11:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] every-daae.livejournal.com
Christine came a bit late, clutching a music book and a bottle of very old champagne (she'd brought it with her from the 1880s). She smoothed out the skirt of her best white dress, and rapped gently at the door.

"Hello? Camilla? Do forgive me for being late. I was practicing and lost track of the time."

Date: 2006-10-23 10:22 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] every-daae.livejournal.com
"Oh, of course! And this is for you." She held out the bottle of champagne and went to go sit down.

Date: 2006-10-23 09:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] average-adam.livejournal.com
Raising his water glass and not sure what to do or say, Adam only smiled at her and looked around the table.

Date: 2006-10-23 10:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] marius-p.livejournal.com
Marius smiled shyly and raised his glass. "Bon santé, Mademoiselle!"

He managed to continue smiling at Adam, who Marius thought looked a little confused, and took a sip from his glass of wine, motioning Adam to do the same with his glass of water.

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Date: 2006-10-23 11:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] robinthepuck.livejournal.com
Robin, raising his glass of wine in return, smiled at Camilla. "Dum vivimus vivamus.*" Sipping his drink to complete the toast, Robin then set his glass down and turned to the delicious young man on his right. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure, my good sir. I am Robin Goodfellow, at your service."

---

((*Let us live while we live.))

Date: 2006-10-23 11:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ugly-old-hat.livejournal.com
The Hat bows, first to Camilla for acknowledging it, and then to the rest of the guests at the table. It raises its glass with a strap, then drinks to everyone. After a few minutes, it clears its throat and raises its glass again, and begins to sing:

"Please raise your glass to Miss Macaulay,
Who always makes her dinners jolly.
We're filled with cheer but not with folly!
She's got us in our places, by golly,
As if she were a border collie!
Let's eat! I think I see the tea trolley!"


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