The Playground If it's troubling how close this playground is to the stairs into Knockturn Alley, let the charmed boundaries put your mind at ease. This tiny oasis can be found in a grassy lot that seems as if it has always been there. Did there used to be a shop here, or was it a fountain, or... hmm? In addition to a self-propelled swing set and monkey bars with real (not real) monkeys, there's a fantastic miniature Hogwarts for climbing and sliding and general silliness. Behind the castle, there's a miniature carousal - unicorns and dragons and kelpies and other magical creatures chase each other in a neverending circle. This is the perfect place for tired parents and caregivers to settle with rambunctious kids who are too young for school. And if they wander too far, the charm will alert their caregiver of their wandering. From here you can go back to the North end of the Street and visit some of the shops there, including Scribbulus Ever-Changing Inks which is right next door, you can take care of your money business at Gringotts, or keep walking past this corner and see what else the middle of the street has to offer. |
For anyone :) The long due dad-girl day out was finally happening: at last, on a beautiful winter weekend. This was the young lady's new favourite spot. Whenever they talked about going out, Helena wanted to come here. Her sister was at Hogwarts, and even though she perfectly knew she wasn't allowed to go until 3 more years, she still felt bad. And this was the best she could have for now, so... here they were, with Daddy Cossy. Squealing upon seeing the playground, she let go of his hand and ran to the Hogwarts climbing castle. She didn't even care that she had a few layers of clothing that would make climbing hard (his dad had got a P on charms, and he wasn't very good at it and she hated the taste of the potion that made her not feel cold). The eight year old with pink cheeks due to cold air launched at it, and glanced once at her dad to get her good luck grin before climbing. Yes, Cosgrach had promised to bring her here on several occasions, and they were here at last. He was prepared: He drank that horrible tasting potion to keep warm, and brought a few articles on experimental potions to read. They were going to be here for a few hours at least, and even though he would never feel bored when with her, he was going to sit the playground part of the day out at least (if only those monkey bars were made for adults...), and so he figured (and got permission from her daughter) to read the articles. He chuckled when she squealed and ran away. She was a ball of energy, and he didn't even know how she managed to never get tired. He found a bench to sit (it was still relatively early before noon, and not many people were around), and brought out an article written in Cyrillic alphabet to read. |
Hiii, we see you, Helena! And also for Ashley!Cecelia and possibly Stefan!Noah Catherine Mordaunt had never noticed that playground before. Strange, as she was usually an observant little girl, and the thought that she had missed spotting such a nice place before did annoy her a bit. Was it new? Was it hidden by a spell before because it as under construction? Or were they simply never there long enough to walk past it? She wasn't sure, but she really, really hoped that it was one of the first two options. There was only one other kid there; an older girl, and she looked like she was having a great time. Catherine wanted to have a great time too, but she felt too awkward and was terribly shy to go and speak to the girl first. The five year-old bit her lip and took a few shy steps towards the miniature Hogwarts to see what was behind it. |
Hello hello! Mommy was super busy watching over Samuel because he was only a tiny three year old baby kid and SHE, Cecelia, was already FIVE WHOLE YEARS OLD! THAT meant that she could run ahead and see her BEST, BEST, BEST friend in the whole world on her OWN! "CAAAAAAAAAAAATHERINE! CATHERINE! HI!" The blonde's curls bounced as she bounded towards the Mordaunt girl, her sing-song voice carrying through the air. She came skidding to a halt JUST beside her and wrapped her in the BIGGEST EVER hug because it had been FOR-EVER since she'd seen her! Forever was SO SO LONG! "I MISSED YOU!" So much that she squeezed just a LITTLE extra to show her how much! "Hi! Do you like my purse?! It's NEW! It's an ELEPHANT! I-Who is THAT?!" She POINTED at the older girl, gaze curious. Did Catherine have a new best FRIEND?! |
Omg they are polar opposites, I love it xD Quote:
The little brunette turned around with a small smile, which grew wider as her best friend bear-hugged her. "Hi!" She greeted the blonde, feeling much safer to look around and explore the playground now. She chuckled as Cece said she had missed her. She found that funny because they had seen each other just the other day! But the other little girl was already talking a lot and asking her about her new purse and then asking who that other girl was, so Catherine, as usual, didn't reply to every single question because... If Cece really wanted an answer she would wait before asking the next question, wouldn't she? In Catherine's mind that meant the most important question for Cece had been the last one: who that girl was. The quiet Mordaunt looked at the older girl as well and shook her head slightly. "I don't know..." And... it wasn't as if she was going to go over there and ask, so... ... She watched to see what Cece would do. |
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Eyeing the older girl with her curious, wide-eyed stare, Cece's lips quirked upwards. "She's a good climber! I bet I can go that high, TOO! C'mon, Cath!" They needed to CLIMB UP AND UP AND UP. The blonde took the Mordaunt girl's hand and tuuuuuuugged her closer to the structure, ready to PLAY! |
After visiting her papa at work, Regina was glad that her mother decided to take her and her brother to the playground nearby. Sure, she knew that she was getting much too mature for it since she would be ten (double digits!) on her next birthday - which was still nine months away, but who was really counting? But for now, she decided she would make the most of it while she could. What she was most definitely too mature for was her mum watching over her. So as soon as they got there, she took off, running straight for the monkey bars. Who cares if she had a summer dress on? |
Felix and Kristin too Quote:
What did he want to play on first? Maybe they could pretend to be Aurors or he could pretend to be one and his sister a dark wizard. "Regina you want to play? Be the bad guy for me and I'm going to be the Auror." He pulled out his toy wand and pretended to hit her with spells. |
Hi de la Garzas :P All she’d actually asked for was to be able to come to London to see Dylan, her big sister, but when that had turned into getting to actually go places with her too, there had been no way that Bella was going to turn it down. Even if there was a tiny part of her that kind of had hoped she’d get to see her sister’s boyfriend too. She knew her big sister missed him, and therefore she felt like that would’ve made things that much better. They were magic, after all, so why couldn’t she do that? Why couldn’t her and Chris do that, like extra twin magic? It was the only thing that had colored her excitement as they’d left Dylan’s flat and headed over to the extra magical world of Diagon Alley. The six-year-old had been skipping along slightly ahead of her big sister and her twin sister, knowing that it was entirely possible the rest of her family was around here somewhere too. She felt safe, and she felt excited at the adventure. The magic part wasn’t new. She went to school after all, and there was lots of magic at home. But the appearance of a playground near the middle of the street had widened her eyes. There were people there too, and she’d tilted her head as if to decide if she could join them or not when she heard someone mention Aurors. “Do you know any real Aurors?,” she asked, curious. She knew her sister was studying law, and she remembered Aurors at some things she’d gone to with her parents because of former Quidditch star stuff. But playing them sounded cool too. |
She was almost to the top of the monkey bars when her little brother finally caught up to her. Regina glanced down at Alejandro as he spoke and she gave a carefree laugh. "Sure! I'll be the best dark wizard you've ever seen! You can be an incompetent auror, if you want." That was a word she heard Mama and Papa say about the MLE. And she thought she knew what it meant. She wasn't sure why her brother would want to be a stinky MLE, but okay. Grabbing onto the bars, she swung her body out of the way as Alejandro pretended to cast spells her way. "Can't catch me!" She didn't have a toy wand, but she could improvise with... something. But before she could look for anything suitable, they were interrupted by a voice. "Duh. We know all the aurors," she said with an air of superiority as she jumped down to the ground. "Our mum works in the ministry. She's a department head." And she knew that meant she was very important and in charge. |
He laughed when his sister said she was a dark Wizard, "They never win!" Running towards her he started shooting spells outpointing his fake wand. "I'm not incompetent!! MUUUUUM Regina called me incompetent" He had no clue what that even meant but he knew it had to be a bad thing. Running around he kept trying to hit her with spells, "I'll get you dark wizard" Though he stopped in mid spell when he heard another voice. He got quiet and moved closer to his sister who had just joined him on the ground. He just smiled at the girl and quietly let his sister talk first. "and our dad is head of the Daily Prophet, he's friends with one." Though they did hear their parents talk bad about most he knew his dad had introduced him once to one. What was his name?? |
Oh, sweet Circe! Regina rolled her eyes when Alejandro told on her to their mum. What a baby. But she did sneak a look towards their mother out of the corner of her eye, noting that she was still sitting on a bench not far from them and reading her newspaper. Good, she wouldn't catch any harsh words and could get back to playing. The younger girl seemed rather quiet, and that was okay with Regina. She was used to being the boss. And she nodded along with her brother. "Our mum and dad are very important. And they know all the most important people." So, yeah. But it seemed like nothing more needed to be said about it, or at least it didn't according to Regina. And without another word she suddenly ran off for the swings. |
The initial reaction her innocent question had gotten had, in fact, startled Bella into silence for a moment or two. For the simple reason that nobody had ever actually spoken to her that way, as if she was barely worth their notice. It had even made her glance back toward her sisters, as protection or maybe backup except all that had happened was a reminder of something. She had just as much importance as the other two who were being so mean. Maybe even more, and she turned back to them with a determined look on her face. “My papa used to play Quidditch so everyone knows him, and my uncle still is the head coach of my papa’s old team.” That was just as important as working at the Ministry. Everyone said so. “Oh, and my sister worked at the Ministry. She was an intern.” Whatever that meant. As far as she felt, it meant that maybe Dylan knew their parents and that meant she was just as important as they were. It meant they didn’t need to be so mean, as she eyed the older girl running off toward the swings. |
yikes this got long Spencer was EIGHT now. Because of this, he liked to tell himself (and everyone else within in 200 foot radius, if possible) that he was practically a grown-up and definitely not a little kid anymore, and that that meant he could go where he wanted, whenever he wanted, and without an adult with him and definitely without having his hand held all the time. Except his dad was always doing that anyway. Making him stay right beside him whenever they went out, and always being like, 'Don't do THIS, Spencer', 'Don't do THAT, Spencer', 'You're GROUNDED, Spencer', and 'For the love of Merlin, Spencer, if you keep playing up in public I'll put a Permanent Sticking Charm on your backside and sit you at the kitchen table while I go out and get some peace and quiet.' (That last one was the funniest because he knew full well that his dad would never do something like that because then he'd have to deal with Spencer PERMANENTLY sat at the kitchen table and then he would never have to go to school again and he knew full well that his dad fully appreciated those hours of the day. Also, the kitchen table was where his dad liked to write, and he wasn't really supposed to go anywhere near it most of the time anyway.) Spencer probably ended up grounded more than anyone else in school, or at least anyone else in his year, and definitely all the people in his swimming lessons, and THAT made him really really cool. It seemed like the cool kids were the ones that found themselves in (read: actively sought out) trouble all the time, and the fact that Spencer had noticed this had been the cause of many of his dad's grey hairs. Being cool was the BEST, and SPENCER had NO PLANS of losing that reputation (which, by the way, would absolutely happen if the kids at school found out that part of being grounded also meant he had to hold hands whenever he left the house, like a baby, like it was his fault he tended to scarper and accidentally (read: not at all accidentally) get into more trouble). ANYWAY, those with good powers of observation would today notice that Spencer had appeared without Mr. Muldoon in tow. Because he was eight! Old enough to go anywhere! Certainly not because he had made his great escape while his dad was busy talking to a boring someone about boring things in a boring shop! (Unbeknownst to Spencer, his father Kenrick knew perfectly well what his son was up to and where he was going - having tailed him for long enough to ascertain just that - and had decided to just let him get on with it. The Playground's charms would let him know if the boy wandered again, and even though the little so-and-so wasn't supposed to be having fun, it at least got him out of his hair for a few minutes. Peace and quiet indeed; parenting at its finest.) So, now he needed to get in as much playtime as he could, and pronto. Because even though being eight years old meant practically being a grown-up and not being a kid, it did NOT mean he had to give up his toys and the playground and also pudding like his dad kept telling him. Spencer wasn't a fool. There were already people at the playground, but Spencer supposed he could share, especially considering he knew at least two of them. "REGINA! ALEJANDRO!" he bellowed to the De La Garza siblings as he entered the area, effectively announcing his arrival and interrupting their game and conversation without apology. Eyeing up a free swing - which was, of course, the best part of any playground - near Regina, Spencer leapt up onto it with both feet on the seat, held onto the chains either side and starting to swing while stood on it. "I'm a very important perthon," he added in a half-joking manner as he did so, having caught just enough of their conversation to not have understood any of it at all. His accent was thick: a right little London boy. "'Oo're you?" This was directed towards the other girl, the one he didn't know yet. "Wot'th your name?" |
Alejandro watched the girl as she said about quidditch, "We know Quidditch players." With his father's job he knew many of them and missed when they would be at the magazine more often and would see some of the famous people coming in. Though hanging out at the paper wasn't as thrilling as that, but he still got candy from the journalist at times. Though this conversation as becoming boring and Al wanted to get back to playing Auror and Dark Wizard his thoughts soon were interrupted again, "Hey Spencer, want to play with us?" The boy got an impressed look as he jumped on the swing, Alejandro hadn't tried that yet, but he was now jumping from the swing and landing on both feet instead of falling to the ground. "We are playing Auror and Dark Wizard, do you want to play?" That question went to both Spencer and the girl if she wanted to play. |
Regina nodded as her brother added more very important info about the very important people they knew. "And, our mum used to be a Quidditch player too." The nine year old didn't even know what team she had played for, but she had heard her mother mention it on occasion so she knew it must be true. And it wouldn't even occur to her that someone thought she was being mean, because to her, she was the oldest which meant that she could take charge and was simply stating very important information to questions asked. But she didn't care about the conversation anymore because it was boring and there were more important things to be doing, like seeing who could swing the highest now that Spencer had joined her on the swings. "Hiiii, Spencerrr," she drew out the greeting as she leaned far back on the swing and held tight on the chains, her long, raven-colored hair nearly touching the ground. She swung in this leaned-back position for a moment as she looked over at him. She was older than him too, which meant she could boss him also. "Are you an auror or a dark wizard? Or a Quidditch player?!" Apparently those were all important people since that was who they were talking about, not that she knew how Quidditch players would fit into their game, but that didn't matter. "I'm a dark wizard and you can't catch me!" She started pumping her legs to make her swinging go faster and higher... and higher. And as for the other girl, sure she could play too if she wanted. But no one could go as high as her on the swings! |
Els and Little Italy <3 It was a quick stop at a street vendor to procure some......................semi....sorta.....not really nutritional food for herself and the holy terror before heading over to the playground in Diagon Alley. Not in the mood to fight Emmerson into a million layers of clothing, she'd fitted the three year old with a jacket and some proper boots. Outside of that, it was only the warming charm placed on her that kept the little girl from becoming a human popsicle. Was she concerned about the disappearing children in the alley? Not particularly. By all accounts those kids had been left to wander with some amount of liberty away from their caretakers. Constant Vigilance was something she never left at home. Emm would be fine. These weren't blatant kidnappings, they were far more subtle. There was no sense telling the kid to slow down, it would only fall on deaf ears. Instead, Lex kept a steady, brisk pace not slowing or relaxing until they were within the confines of the playground where she could sit and keep an eye on her regardless of what caught her attention. This wasn't exactly the park over near the Ministry, nah, it was a nice little foothold just big enough to contain the energizer bunnies that needed to LOSE some of that energy. Keeping an eye on her would be easy here while she caught up with Els and just relaxed. Suffice to say it'd been a long morning cooped up inside with her mini me. Were she bigger and sturdier in build, the little girl that barrelled through the moderately crowded streets of Diagon Alley might have actually done some damage. As it was, she was tiny and slipped between everyone with relative ease. Of course, she knew where she was going. They'd been there LOTS of times "Mummy look at me!" She yelled, immediately running over to a set of swings. Rather than sit, Emmerson climbed up and stood, her little hands firmly grasping either side. "Look! Look! Look! I'm swiiiiiinging." More accurately, the swing was swinging and she was standing there enjoying the ride. "Loooooooook!" WAS SHE LOOKING??? |
Eva my love <3 Tipping her head back Logan couldn't help but smile - sure it was cold out but it was nice to forget about being an adult for…well, at least some time? The twenty-something didn't care if anyone or everyone watched her as she sat there on the swing slowly swaying...merlin was she really that old now? The weight of her age and e v e r y t h i n g started to hit her right then as she sat there. Her hands clutched around the to-go cup of coffee she had picked up earlier at work after her shift ended. |
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Elodie was less than impressed as she arrived in Diagonal Alley hand-in-hand with her scruffy looking toddler — what was it with their inability to keep their hair in cute pigtails all day?! Children. We’re. Exhausting. Why did she want another one again?? She heard Emmerson before she saw her and headed in the direction of the louder child and the swings. ”Look for Auntie Lex, Pebs. Can you see her? Where’s Auntie Lex?” Huh. Hm. Well, Cece at least noticed the familiar looking woman and had pointed right on over to where she was sitting. As the two slipped to sit with her, Elodie smiled softly and muttered a few apologies for the state of Cece’s hair. It had been one of those mornings... |
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Shaking his head he took a sip of coffee and a bite of his muffin as he in a limping pace decided to take a detour past the muggle playground. He didn't want to be an adult just yet. He was still nursing the injuries to his leg and shoulder in the muggle way as well as all the emotions tied with retiring from professional qudditch. His mother didn't get it. Going by the swings Jake didn't exactly pay much attention to who was sitting there until he heard a laugh that he'd know anywhere. Turning around he gawked in surprise at the woman sitting on the swing and called out to her. "Logan? Logan, is it really you?" |
It’s a phone post Quote:
Logan...huh someone else has my name? Lo thought as she looked around to see whoever was talking to their friend but it was quiet...wait, that voice. She knew that voice it wasn’t a voice she could forget easily after she had had all of those late night chats in the Wolverine commons back at Durmstrang and...school, he’d been the person she’d sought comfort from when Mar was busy and she needed someone to talk to after her relationship with Altair had fallen apart. |
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But it'd never really been about the looking. No, she knew what the 3 year old was really asking of her. "Wow, lookit you! You're going so high, it's amazing!" Little praise monger that she was. Some may have been concerned with the obvious absence of safety in the little girl but the ground was charmed and a little fall every now and then was a far better teacher than "Oh be careful you don't fall honey". All it'd take was the right fall to get THAT message into her head and if she didn't fall, even better. Life was meant to be lived and it shouldn't have been done in fear. She'd been set to offer up more praise when she was joined by their company for the afternoon. Lex almost snorted at the apology before pointing to her own child. "If she isn't going to dance or gymnastic, it doesn't get combed." Order of the little girl who'd learned how to firmly and fiercely scream NO. It was a little impressive if she was being honest. She wiggled her fingers in greeting for Little Italy. "Wanna go play with Emmerson?" Who...she expected to be over here any minute now actually. She was never one to turn down attention. "She's getting so big, Circe. Wasn't it yesterday I was at your house eating cupcakes that said you were having a baby?" A slight exaggeration but it FELT like yesterday. Emmerson beamed wide, wiggling enthusiastically, willing to go higher so her Mummy could tell her she was amazing AGAIN! "Look! Look! I'm hiiigher!" Not by much but she'd be taking that compliment no-- "Auntie 'Lodie!!!!!" She squealed, stepping/hopping/falling off the swing to go greet them. Emm wasted barely any time on the floor before scrambling to her feet and running over. The little girl settled herself in the V of her mothers legs but grinned brightly up at the woman. "Did you see me swwwiiiinnngggiiinnngggg?" For now, she paid little attention to Cecily, thinking this FAR MORE IMPORTANT. |
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Studying her had to admit to himself that his friend sounded the same, but she had become way more beautiful then when he had seen her last. The years when they had been apart and not dating had certainly changed Logan's appearance, but had it changed her personality too? Time would tell. Seeing her again, certainly made many emotions stir inside him that he didn't want to inspect right then and there. Jake slowly walked over to sit down on the empty swing beside Logan, to honestly buy himself sometime to figure out just what to reply to that very loaded question. "I'm recovering, " flashing her a small smile of appreciation Jake murmured "Thanks for the box Lo, but I haven't really used its content. I erm didn't get how to use the supplies you sent me." Which was a big lie. He knew, he just was iffy about using medical stuff on himself. "Thank you, it was a horrible practice that ended horribly." Changing the topic from him to her quickly Jake asked "So how are you Lo? Are you still working as a baker? Are you dating Altair again?" |
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Logan watched Jake for a moment as he sat on the swing next to her, it was strange really seeing him after all of this time. The last time she had seen him was…well, back when she was what…eighteen when she was fresh out of durmstrang and newly single. |
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Turning his eyes to Logan he nodded simply "Yes, I ate the cupcakes they were delicious." He was immensely glad that she didn't push him about not using the healing supplies that had come with the cupcakes. He and healers were a very complicated chapter which was why he was still nursing his injuries in the muggle style and refused using all magical herbs and charms. "Thank you for not pushing me about you know." It meant lots. Jake was so relieved that Logan didn't inquire further about that horrible and ghastly quidditch practice and why he was now a retired quidditch player with no intent of going back. She didn't reach over to give him a hug like she did when they dated, a hug of feeling but he noticed that she did lean closer to him. It was nice, warming. When Logan said that she was not seeing Altair again Jake was inwardly pleased. He had never liked that guy. He hadn't told Lo about it but he and Altair had had a few choice words and such back at school, but that was ancient history now. It was not something he'd divulge now even if she asked. Looking into her eyes Jake asked surprised "You haven't dated for 6 years? But you're a pretty woman....!" Weird, if it was true. Confused Jake said "But I always thought you'd have your own bakery some day. Wasn't that your dream?" Dreams could change though he supposed. Eating up the last of his muffin and taking the last latte sip he leaned down to put his cup on the gravel too. Straightening up he said without a doubt. "I hope you get a job at the ministry. I don't want you to work at a shady and creepy seeming law-firm with dark wizards. No, that just screams red flags, you know?" Starting to swing a little he glanced back over a Logan and smiled "Oh, not much. I'm not dating anyone. I did but it ended last year. As for a job, i don't have one either after leaving the swedish national quidditch team. I suppose I could apply to the ministry too. I still like to camp, and do crossword puzzles." |
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