RP: Easter in Phoenix Park

[rar_npc]

Date: 7 April 1999
Character(s): [Edward Clarke], Any citizens who want to come out and have a picnic
Location: Phoenix Park, Hogsmeade
Status: Very Public
Summary: Easter Sunday in Hogsmeade and the grand opening of Phoenix Memorial Park
Completion: InComplete

Comments

[rar_andromeda]

It was a nice day for a picnic. The air was warm and the sky was overcast. While sunshine might possibly be better, Andy preferred the clouds. It kept Teddy from getting a sunburn and meant she didn't have to apply oil to his face to protect him. Instead, he was bouncing happily in his carrier, his bum wiggling against her abdomen, and he was smiling as he looked around at the people.

She glanced at Roger as they entered the park. "They've set it up nicely," she observed, liking the pathways and flowers a lot. There were already people around, some staking claims on picnic space and others just walking around to look.

[rar_roger]

"Yeah, they have," he said, happy to be seeing it after not being able to come while things were getting set up. There were stone paths throughout, and benches, and an open green where picnics were starting to happen. And there was the memorial in the center, of course. He could hear the water.

"I heard there were some delays with getting everything done, so I'm glad it's all come together, and so close to the anniversary."

[rar_andromeda]

"Were there?" She looked around curiously while she smoothed down Teddy's turquoise hair. "Well, it's a good time of year to open a park, so the delays likely worked in their favor, all things considered."

"Would you like to find a spot for our picnic or look around more?" she asked as she glanced back at Roger. Teddy was kicking her again, so she moved her hands down to catch his feet, which made him giggle.

[rar_roger]

"Mmm," he acknowledged, "I read about them in the Prophet, I think, or it might have been a smaller publication. Anyway, you're right, it's a good time for it."

"How hungry are you?" he asked as they walked and Teddy bounced and kicked in his carrier. "Teddy seems to be enjoying himself." He smiled. "Would you like me to carry him for a bit?"

[rar_harry]

Harry was carrying the picnic basket that Kreacher had made up, and could smell the meat from the sandwiches; his stomach growled as he arrived with Hermione at Phoenix park, where they'd been only a few weeks ago to help plant things. Everything had been tented and covered then, though. It all looked brilliant, to him, though he did want to check out the memorial that he'd heard about. He could see it in the distance but couldn't tell much about it from here.

"What d'you want to do first?" he asked.

[rar_hermione]

The park looked nice. Hermione could recognize the area where she and Harry had planted flowers, and it was lovely without the tents all around. There were already a lot of people around, which had her stepping closer to Harry and taking his hand.

"We could take a walk," she suggested. "There's several paths, so why don't we just follow one and see what the park is like. It seems to be lovely."

[rar_harry]

Harry nodded, noticing the different paths, as well. They started to walk. "So many kids around," he commented, looking around. The park was big enough to hold a lot of people, but not big enough to anything large-scale such as Quidditch. "Hopefully we won't stumble on any of their eggs."

He smiled; it really was a good day for this, and a really good way to remember everything -- with something alive, something that would grow and keep living. But it was still bittersweet. He squeezed her hand. "Think many people will be out? This is kind of nice."

[rar_hermione]

"There are," she agreed, looking at a group of younger children playing nearby. "This is good, to celebrate in this way. It's definitely an improvement over last Easter." She smiled wryly as she dragged her thumb along his palm. "We'll be careful as we walk so we don't step on any eggs."

"They might be out today. It's good weather, and a park is a good place to be on Easter, I suppose." She glanced at him. "Did you ever celebrate Easter as a child? I mean, with hunting eggs and all that?"

"I can remember hunting chocolate eggs when my grandfather was alive, but it was in our back garden alone. Usually, my family would just eat, but we stopped doing more formal dinners after the last of my grandparents had passed, before I started Hogwarts."

[rar_angelina]

Angelina wasn't sure who was going to be at the park, but she wanted to go and see the opening. She had helped to plant many flowers that rainy day, and at least she felt as though she had contributed in some small way. And now to see it all come together, well, she didn't want to miss it.

She had a bag full of food and sweets slung over her shoulder. If she ran into someone who felt like having a picnic with her, then she would most definitely share, but she didn't mind eating alone either. However, after being cooped up in her apartment, painting for the past few days, she wouldn't turn down a decent conversation.

She smiled at all the people who were milling around the park, and she strolled at a slow pace, taking it all in.

[rar_ginny]

Ginny wandered through the park. The flowers were quite nice and she stopped a few times just to enjoy their rich colors. She held a bag of food she'd packed in case she wanted to sit down in the quiet and eat. It was peaceful even if there were loads of kids running around and playing. She knew the festivities would be happening later, but for now, most everyone was enjoying the park and it's natural beauty.

She tried not to gaze around too often to see if she could find a familiar face, but every now and then, she wondered if she might run into anyone she knew. Oliver had mentioned coming to the park, and it would be nice to have a friendly chat with him. But mostly she was content walking down the winding paths and smiling at the flowers.

[rar_oliver]

Oliver sipped his water an looked around. He didn't know if George and Lee were planning to come, or Charlie, or even Percy, but he hoped he might get a chance to see some of his mates. He didn't talk to many people at George's birthday, so this might be a chance to make up for it.

He spotted Ginny, and debated with himself for a minute. He'd thought about this new, and sort of silly, crush over the last few days, and knew it would be best to ignore it. If that was the case, would seeking her out be a very good idea? Still, she was glancing around like she was looking for someone, and he knew it was stupid to think about it too much. Just because he'd developed a little crush didn't mean he had to do anything about it. She was like a little sister. Er. Maybe not.

It seemed his feet worked ahead of his brain, and he soon found himself tapping her on the shoulder. "Hey Ginny, happy Easter."

[rar_ginny]

Ginny was in the middle of wondering about the blooming season of a tulip when she was tapped on the shoulder. She looked up to see Oliver, and she smiled.

"Hello there," she replied. "And Happy Easter to you, too."

She looked away and let her eyes wander across the park. "Lovely, isn't it?"

[rar_oliver]

Oliver nodded. "Yeah." He looked out over the flowers and smiled. "The bee's will be something else come summer. Then in the fall, too. Don't envy the garden workers."

"Enjoy your week off?"

[rar_lisa]

Lisa had seen the flyers about the park's opening all over town, and she thought it would be the perfect place to get some air and think without being completely antisocial and moping about her room all day. She'd packed a small lunch for herself, though certainly nothing fancy, and jogged from her house until she reached the park, at which point she slowed to a walk. Her lungs felt like they could breathe the clear air all day and still never be tired of it; the exertion felt good.

There were all sorts of people wandering about, but no one she recognized yet. It was peaceful in a way that her room and house really couldn't be, and she found herself smiling in spite of herself. Lisa liked the simple things more than ever these days--a good book, a quiet meal, spending time with Terry, a drink with a mate--and this place certainly seemed to qualify. Already her mood felt truly lighter than it had all week.

She thought maybe she'd be spending a lot more time in Phoenix Park as the weather continued to improve.

[rar_cho]

Cho arrived at the park to find it already getting crowded. It was nice to see so many families and children enjoying themselves. She had been happy to receive such a quick reply from Lisa in response to the letter she had sent a little earlier. Lisa had mentioned she was going to the Phoenix Park opening which was an event Cho planned to attend as well. She walked around the park a few minutes until she saw the person she was looking for.

“Lisa! Fancy running into you here,” she grinned as she walked over to her friend. “I hope you don’t mind but I was already headed in this direction when I got your letter, so I was hoping I’d run into you.”

[rar_lisa]

"Cho, hi!" The sudden appearance of her friend had startled her a little, as caught up as she was in her thoughts, but she recovered quickly. Maybe she could even get through today without a pretense of happiness. Lisa smiled, realising that her expression might have said otherwise. "Of course I don't mind. Just a little distracted, sorry. How are you?"

[rar_cho]

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to surprise you like that. I just didn’t want to miss the opportunity to say hello.” Lisa did seem to be distracted and Cho really hadn’t wanted to intrude. Hopefully, Lisa was distracted by good things. She deserved them.

“It’s good to see you again.” She was realizing just how much she had missed everyone while she was back in Glasgow. “Hey! Congratulations on your new job! The Ministry chose well.”

“I’m doing okay. It’s been a bit of an adjustment living alone. I’ve never done that before.” She smiled again at Lisa. “So, things are good for you? With a new place and new job, it sounds like you’re doing well.”