Post by goldencat on Mar 20, 2009 8:33:29 GMT -5
A similar situation just happened a few days ago in my French host family (I'm an Au-Pair). As you can imagine it wasn't about the same things.
''Where’s my hot chocolate?'', Nancy asked her mother in an overbearing manner.
Minerva looked at her 8 year-old daughter. She had her long black hair and her green eyes but that was nearly all. Like her father and her 6 year-old brother she loved chocolate and lemon drops. Ginger Newts or tea? No way. Minerva sighed.
It was nine o’clock in the morning and the whole family was sitting at the breakfast table.
The whole? No. One member was still in the bathroom. While Minerva was trying to feed her 6 month old daughter Amy, Nancy and her brother Tim were looking confused at her mother. For a moment Minerva stopped fighting with her little daughter who had mastered to spread her mash all over her and her mother but unfortunately not in her mouth.
''We don’t have any more'', she told her children and their confused faces turned into shocked ones.
''You’re joking, aren’t you Mom?'', Tim tried hopefully. But his hopes were shattered at once.
''No, I’m not. As you know I wanted to go shopping yesterday but Amy wasn’t feeling well; so I couldn’t go.''
The children looked at each other and Minerva tried to prepare herself, guessing what would come next.
''That’s not fair….'' ''You could have done it anyway….'' ''I want my hot chocolate and….'' ''And me too!''
The children were nearly screaming at her. Scared by the loud voices Amy started to cry, moved her arms and reached the glass with her mash in Minerva’s hands that shattered into tiny pieces on the floor.
''Stop you two at once'', She yelled at her children.
''But we….'' Nancy started.
Luckily she was interrupted by her father who was now standing in the door frame wearing a blue bathrobe.
''Calm down children'', he said looking at them. Albus had heard the loud voices and as he knew his wife’s temper he wanted to calm her before she could really start. Yet he did not know what they were arguing about.
''Minerva, dear, what’s the matter'', He asked her lovingly while she was cleaning up the mass that her little daughter had caused. She turned towards him, her hands on her hips. Her green eyes were sparkling angrily.
''You’re asking me what’s going on here? Well, you’re children are so addicted to hot chocolate that it seems as if they wouldn’t survive a day without it.''
For him, these words were like a slap in the face. Like his children before he was now looking shocked at his wife.
''You…You mean we don’t have anything left?'', he stuttered. Minerva couldn’t believe it. At least she had hoped to get a bit of support from him yet as she knew of his childish behaviour his reaction shouldn’t have surprised her. However, she was already in rage but that was the final straw.
''No, I’m not joking and I mean it seriously. And while we’re already talking about it you have eaten the last lemon drop yesterday.''
''Dad, how could you!'', Nancy and Tim shouted in chorus.
''What? I thought you went shopping yesterday and…'' But he couldn’t get any further.
''That’s enough!'' Minerva went to Amy, picked her up and handed her to Albus.
Today you and the children can do the shopping, the cooking and the rest of the household. I’m off with Poppy for today.
With these words she went out of the kitchen, put on her coat and closed the door behind herself. After a few minutes Albus had overcome the shock and like his children he was looking guilty. The only one who was still smiling was now also spreading her mash in her father’s hair and beard. He sighed.
''Well, you three, he turned towards his children. I think we have a lot of work for today.''
It was already getting dark when Minerva returned home. She had been with Poppy all day long with whom she had talked about the whole situation. Being her best friend Poppy could understand her knowing her temper very well. But as Minerva had started wondering also about staying the night in Poppy’s house she had persuaded her to go back. Maybe, she had told Minerva, she would be awaited by a surprise.
Finally Minerva had given in and so she was now standing at the gate that was leading to the front door. She opened it but yet stopped again at the front door. She extended her hand and opened the door.
She thought she was prepared for everything. But she was proven wrong.
Soft music sounded in her ears as she opened the door and two rows of lit candles were marking the way down to the diningroom. Totally taken aback she took the way into the diningroom and was shocked by the sight.
Albus and his three children were sitting at the table, all in their best clothes. Candles were lit there as well and the table was full of different dishes and plates. Minerva was speechless. Albus, Nancy and Tim were smiling at her and finally Albus rose and went towards her. He took her hand and kissed it.
''Mrs Dumledore, do I have the honor to escort you to your seat?'' The children were looking from one to another.
A wide smile came to her face. ''I’d love it.''
And so he escorted her to her seat. Nancy and Tim rose as well and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek. Minerva looked at her little daughter. She was smiling at her mother as well and her blue eyes were nearly twinkling as much as her father’s.
Finally they started to eat and Minerva could choose between all of her favourite meals. At the end of the evenning the morning trouble was forgotten.
Later in bed Minerva was lying in Albus’ arms half-asleep.
''Minerva, don’t you think we should get one or two house-elves also for the holidays when we’re not living at Hogwarts?'' , he asked her.
''I can manage it'', she murmured and moments later she was sleeping. Albus grinned at his beloved wife.
I don’t know what she would do to me if she ever finds out that I had borrowed a few house-elves from Hogwarts to do all the work for us, he thought, drifting off to sleep as well.
So, what are you thinking about it?
''Where’s my hot chocolate?'', Nancy asked her mother in an overbearing manner.
Minerva looked at her 8 year-old daughter. She had her long black hair and her green eyes but that was nearly all. Like her father and her 6 year-old brother she loved chocolate and lemon drops. Ginger Newts or tea? No way. Minerva sighed.
It was nine o’clock in the morning and the whole family was sitting at the breakfast table.
The whole? No. One member was still in the bathroom. While Minerva was trying to feed her 6 month old daughter Amy, Nancy and her brother Tim were looking confused at her mother. For a moment Minerva stopped fighting with her little daughter who had mastered to spread her mash all over her and her mother but unfortunately not in her mouth.
''We don’t have any more'', she told her children and their confused faces turned into shocked ones.
''You’re joking, aren’t you Mom?'', Tim tried hopefully. But his hopes were shattered at once.
''No, I’m not. As you know I wanted to go shopping yesterday but Amy wasn’t feeling well; so I couldn’t go.''
The children looked at each other and Minerva tried to prepare herself, guessing what would come next.
''That’s not fair….'' ''You could have done it anyway….'' ''I want my hot chocolate and….'' ''And me too!''
The children were nearly screaming at her. Scared by the loud voices Amy started to cry, moved her arms and reached the glass with her mash in Minerva’s hands that shattered into tiny pieces on the floor.
''Stop you two at once'', She yelled at her children.
''But we….'' Nancy started.
Luckily she was interrupted by her father who was now standing in the door frame wearing a blue bathrobe.
''Calm down children'', he said looking at them. Albus had heard the loud voices and as he knew his wife’s temper he wanted to calm her before she could really start. Yet he did not know what they were arguing about.
''Minerva, dear, what’s the matter'', He asked her lovingly while she was cleaning up the mass that her little daughter had caused. She turned towards him, her hands on her hips. Her green eyes were sparkling angrily.
''You’re asking me what’s going on here? Well, you’re children are so addicted to hot chocolate that it seems as if they wouldn’t survive a day without it.''
For him, these words were like a slap in the face. Like his children before he was now looking shocked at his wife.
''You…You mean we don’t have anything left?'', he stuttered. Minerva couldn’t believe it. At least she had hoped to get a bit of support from him yet as she knew of his childish behaviour his reaction shouldn’t have surprised her. However, she was already in rage but that was the final straw.
''No, I’m not joking and I mean it seriously. And while we’re already talking about it you have eaten the last lemon drop yesterday.''
''Dad, how could you!'', Nancy and Tim shouted in chorus.
''What? I thought you went shopping yesterday and…'' But he couldn’t get any further.
''That’s enough!'' Minerva went to Amy, picked her up and handed her to Albus.
Today you and the children can do the shopping, the cooking and the rest of the household. I’m off with Poppy for today.
With these words she went out of the kitchen, put on her coat and closed the door behind herself. After a few minutes Albus had overcome the shock and like his children he was looking guilty. The only one who was still smiling was now also spreading her mash in her father’s hair and beard. He sighed.
''Well, you three, he turned towards his children. I think we have a lot of work for today.''
It was already getting dark when Minerva returned home. She had been with Poppy all day long with whom she had talked about the whole situation. Being her best friend Poppy could understand her knowing her temper very well. But as Minerva had started wondering also about staying the night in Poppy’s house she had persuaded her to go back. Maybe, she had told Minerva, she would be awaited by a surprise.
Finally Minerva had given in and so she was now standing at the gate that was leading to the front door. She opened it but yet stopped again at the front door. She extended her hand and opened the door.
She thought she was prepared for everything. But she was proven wrong.
Soft music sounded in her ears as she opened the door and two rows of lit candles were marking the way down to the diningroom. Totally taken aback she took the way into the diningroom and was shocked by the sight.
Albus and his three children were sitting at the table, all in their best clothes. Candles were lit there as well and the table was full of different dishes and plates. Minerva was speechless. Albus, Nancy and Tim were smiling at her and finally Albus rose and went towards her. He took her hand and kissed it.
''Mrs Dumledore, do I have the honor to escort you to your seat?'' The children were looking from one to another.
A wide smile came to her face. ''I’d love it.''
And so he escorted her to her seat. Nancy and Tim rose as well and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek. Minerva looked at her little daughter. She was smiling at her mother as well and her blue eyes were nearly twinkling as much as her father’s.
Finally they started to eat and Minerva could choose between all of her favourite meals. At the end of the evenning the morning trouble was forgotten.
Later in bed Minerva was lying in Albus’ arms half-asleep.
''Minerva, don’t you think we should get one or two house-elves also for the holidays when we’re not living at Hogwarts?'' , he asked her.
''I can manage it'', she murmured and moments later she was sleeping. Albus grinned at his beloved wife.
I don’t know what she would do to me if she ever finds out that I had borrowed a few house-elves from Hogwarts to do all the work for us, he thought, drifting off to sleep as well.
So, what are you thinking about it?
- but that is because I can not!!! do any magic 
, as Albus has no scruples...) ?
