Author's Note:
The Houses Competition (or THC) Round 3
House: Slytherin
Class: Ancient Runes
Category: Drabble (up to 1,000 words)
Prompt: [Action] Eating a donut/doughnut.
Word Count: 715
Disclaimers/triggers: AU. James and Lily survive and work at Hogwarts in this twisted little tale.
Beta Love: Thanks to Tea and Ikuni Hattori for looking over my story!
Summertime Brunch
"Come in, come in!" Albus Dumbledore said with his usual enigmatic smile and twinkling eyes.
"I don't understand why you always have to do this blasted staff brunch every year after school lets out," Severus grumbled, taking a seat in his customary chair at the staff table.
It was closest to the door, and he watched it as though it had personally offended him.
"Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the cauldron," Minerva said, bustling about to place the last of the Wizard Crackers on the table. "Besides, Albus has outdone himself this time by going to that delightful Muggle confectionary shop for donuts!"
She swiped a cruller with chocolate icing and placed it on her plate with a smirk.
"Look, donuts!" Pomona exclaimed to Rolanda, as they filed in together through the door.
"Did you get the holes, Headmaster?" Rolanda said cheekily. "I like myself a good hole and I'm sure you do too."
Pomona went red and coughed to cover up a bray of laughter.
Albus turned and produced a small white bag. "Of course, Rolanda, I would never forget your…particular interests."
"Yes!" Rolanda exclaimed, pumping her fists in the air.
"Who's shouting so loudly in the morning?" Lily Potter, Muggle Studies professor, slouched in, barely covering her yawn.
"Did I hear that someone brought donuts?" James Potter, who ran Hogwarts security, was as chipper as ever, and zeroed in on the mighty stack of fried dough without so much as a "good morning" to the rest of the assembled staff.
Hagrid arrived next, followed by Sinistra and Kettleburn. Filch stood in the doorway with Mrs. Norris and looked sour. Filius had begged off, as he was celebrating the graduation of his firstborn from an esteemed Ancient Runes apprenticeship program.
"Don't worry, though," Albus said, as everyone made disappointed noises about Flitwick's absence. "I have placed an old fashioned donut with blue icing under a freshness charm just for Filius when he returns to plan his lessons next week."
"Oi! I was about to eat that!" James shouted, as Snape used wandless magic to snag the donut he'd been about to grab.
"Finders keepers," Severus replied with a ghoulish grin.
"Now, now, manners, Severus, "Albus said, his tone only mildly stern. "After all, we have to celebrate the end of another successful school year! Now, then, let's all go around and talk about our successes, shall we?"
"Only one baby-mandrake-in-the-toilets prank this year!" Pomona said proudly. "The new alert system Hagrid set up is top notch!"
Hagrid went a little pink at the smattering of applause he received. "An' we had three hippogriff foals born healthy this year, eh, Kettleburn?" he said, elbowing the Care of Magical Creatures professor.
"Indeed, good man!" Kettleburn tipped his cup of tea in his artificial hand to the half-giant.
"All of my seventh years passed with flying colors!" Lily chimed in, looking smug.
"Three of my seventh years received highest honors and have been offered exclusive Potions apprenticeships," Severus said, smirking as Lily scowled at him and opened her mouth to counter.
"Ah, but I must interject. My students prophesied the Giant Squid fiasco," Professor Trelawney said from a plush, beaded stool that had mysteriously appeared at the table.
James shuddered. "There were baby squids everywhere. I still have ink in my hair. Won't be forgetting that anytime soon."
Not to be outdone, Trelawney blinked from behind her large glasses and glanced into her teacup. "I see a terrible shortage of donuts in someone's future."
Everyone except for Albus rolled their eyes simultaneously at this.
"By jove, she's right, though!" Hagrid pointed at the now-empty plate, which had only recently been overflowing with the delicious treats.
"Well, you know what they say," Minerva said. "Easy come, easy go."
Without the delicious treats to keep everyone munching, the professors soon dispersed back to their classrooms to clean and ready their curriculums for the coming fall.
Only Albus remained behind, charming a broom to sweep the floor as he placed an apron over his head and gathered the dishes to wash them.
"Not a bad way to end the year, if I do say so myself," he said, pulling a donut he'd hidden in his beard and munching thoughtfully on it in peace.