The grinning and the nodding were the first indications that he had selected well, and her confirmation sealed the deal. There was still hope then. "Good, great," he replied, happily leading them further down the street in the direction of the shop.

He'd set foot in there once before, but only because he wasn't given an option. Paige had been quite insistent. Honestly, it was a revoltingly cutesy place, but the food was decent. Lots of cakes and sweets and good things like that, so not only did he have Maggie's company to look forward to, there was also the promise of sugar.

Zeke HAD notices that Maggie was huddling closer, but he thought it might have been because she wanted to be closer to him, not necessarily because she was cold. But when she brought up the topic of summer, it clicked. She was wearing a dress after all, which was hardly... wintery... but in all fairness he had assumed she had a heating charm on it. "Here," he said as he raised his arm so she could slip into his side, that way he could keep her shoulders a little warmer. Of course, if that didn't help, he would be willing to surrender his jacket. "It'll be here before we know it." Summer, or at least definitely spring. Every year, post Christmas, time just seemed to fly. "Got any plans for it?" he asked, wanting to know a little more, and wanting to distract her from the chill.

"A fair bit. I jumped on his back and clawed his face up real nice. " She smiled real innocent up at him as she tried to shove the other side of his mouth up. Cute daddy!! Could she have another hug when he was done scowling at her? A proper one?

FIRE! Dora nodded and grinned at him. "It's so cool. And I know you could, but I'm not supposed to use magic away from Hogwarts, Dad. " She knew her father wasn't one for rules, but she really liked her wand. Oooooh. DIFFINDO? She'd have to look that up. "Uncle Sabel says hello. " Total lie, but whatever. She liked both of them and they needed to like one another.

Zeke better not be calling the shop 'revoltingly cutesy' out loud.

Either way, they were getting closer to their destination. Soon, soon her ears would be warm again. The rest of her was alright to be honest. They were walking after all and she had cast a warming spell on her boots. So yes, she was MOSTLY warm. Which of course didn't stop her from huddling closer when he offered. How attentive he was.

Four for you, Zeke Browne, you go, Zeke Browne.

Summer, though, yes. Maggie had been talking about PROPER summer, like actual heat, lie in the sun and get tan kind of summer. But she didn't argue. Just shrugged against him. "Mhm." Optimism. As for her summer plans, "No, not really." There was something going on with her daddy's side of the family that no one was telling her about so she wasn't sure if she was going to get to go to California again. She would have to figure that out soon.

"You? Going to France again?" See, she HAD been paying attention when he'd told her about that before the last summer holidays.

"Mommy? Are you okay?" Ashlynn asked and she looked in the direction her mother was looking at. All she saw was a blonde haired girl.

Adeline looked down at her daughter. "Yes. I'm fine." she said giving Ashlynn a warm smile. The blonde looked back up at girl. She knew who she was, it had been nearly eleven years since the last time that she had seen her younger sister. Adeline heard the girl say 'hello' She gave her a slight nod. "Hello." She said back.

Ashlynn smiled at the girl. "HELLO!!" She waved and beamed at her. "I'm Ashlynn! Ooooh! You're so pretty!!!" She nodded quickly a few times.

"Good girl." And he let her have the other corner of his mouth to push up into a smile. Cause really, he was proud of her. "But, you still have to point him out to me. Daddy wants a word."

Or several. Might involve certain incantations.

Rolling his eyes, he gave his daughter a brief hug around the waist. "Supposed to, does not equal should not. Don't know how they expect you to learn anything practical if you're confined to walls." She got another roll of the eyes as he took her hand and started them down the street. "No he doesn't. And neither do I."

Okay, this was weird.

Paulina was starting to feel uncomfortable as the woman stared at her. At least the daughter was just as confused so she wasn't alone. The question kept nagging at her though...WHERE did she know her from?

Oh. She was being called pretty. Paulina blushed a little. "Hello, Ashlyn. Thank you. My name is Paulina." She was about to ask the little girl if she knew her when...

wait...

She KNEW who the woman was.

"Adeline?" Was this her big sister? Paulina hadn't seen her since she was about seven.

Seeeeee!! Dora liked this Daddy. The one who let her rearrange his face and he SMILED AT HER. Mhm. ... and then he went all serious again. Pfft. Dora shook her head and smiled. "He hasn't messed with me again. Totally fine ,Dad. I promise!" And she did indeed promise!!!!

A HUUUUG! Dora tried to hold on before he dislodged her. She knew he would... he wasn't much for touching people. WHO CARES?!

AND THERE HE WENT WITH RULE BREAKING...
"Dad... they wI'll take my wand away... " Not like she was legit an adult or anything.

Making his way down the street with what appeared to be a mass of moving snow on a pink leash following behind him, the astronomer couldn't help it but look like a giddy school boy as he practically skipped forward. Giddy but apprehensive at the same time. There had been many doubts casting their shadows this term, despite the attempt at happy-go-lucky, that had the man questioning his capabilities.

But Hogsmeade weekends, much like they had done for him as a student, provided a bit of an escape. An escape from reality within reality - as opposed to an escape from reality his books and late night Captain Flamsteed of the USS Enterprise sessions in the planetarium provided.

Waiting by the designated lamp post - fifth from the entrance to the villiage and something like 10th from the back - Airey leaned his back against the pole and began to pull the pink leash in closer to himself, which in turn caused a small path to be paved into the snow covered street.

Traveling took a lot longer than she thought it would. Then again, every minute felt like an hour and if she were being honest, she had to take a breather for an extra few minutes before apparating into hogsmeade. What a nice disaster it would be to splinch herself from excitement, right?

Not minding that her nose and cheeks were already becoming a light pink from the chilly air, Medea dug her hands into the pockets of her jacket and began to scout out the blond haired man she was meeting. Of course, she was always on the lookout for a familiar youngster's face who may or may not be a youngster anymore depending on how long it's been, BUT, time is of the essence right now as they say.

Or something like that.

Yet there, leaning against a pole, she spotted him. With a beaming grin, the former professor picked up her pace until she was jogging, giving a bit of a leap when she was near enough to tackle!hug the astronomer. "AIREY!" she squeaked with glee.

ALAS!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Traveling took a lot longer than she thought it would. Then again, every minute felt like an hour and if she were being honest, she had to take a breather for an extra few minutes before apparating into hogsmeade. What a nice disaster it would be to splinch herself from excitement, right?

Not minding that her nose and cheeks were already becoming a light pink from the chilly air, Medea dug her hands into the pockets of her jacket and began to scout out the blond haired man she was meeting. Of course, she was always on the lookout for a familiar youngster's face who may or may not be a youngster anymore depending on how long it's been, BUT, time is of the essence right now as they say.

Or something like that.

Yet there, leaning against a pole, she spotted him. With a beaming grin, the former professor picked up her pace until she was jogging, giving a bit of a leap when she was near enough to tackle!hug the astronomer. "AIREY!" she squeaked with glee.

ALAS!

It was a REALLY good thing that the man had been using the pole to support himself, because if he had not he would have been tackled to the ground. And then probably cried over his suit. Even if present company had permission to touch his suits.

Regaining his balance enough to wrap his arms timidly around her, Airey gave the street a quick glance over before quickly planing a soft kiss on top of her head. "Fancy running into you here," he said with a cheeky grin before straightening his posture a bit so he was not leaning SO much on the pole. Hugging her close for another few moments, the astronomer nearly forgot that he was in a VERY public place where ANYONE could see him right now...but things rather fell into a different category nowadays. Medea and him were no longer colleagues, so a certain level of professionalism need no longer be maintained.

So a certain degree. Which was why he ceased his boyish clinging for the time being.

"I have something for you," he winked, trying to step to the side so he could perform his muggle magic trick only to find that he could not due to Medea standing on Pebbles' leash. "That is...if you would kindly step off Pebbles' leash so I can get at it."

A little stumble, but nothing too bad. She barely noticed, enjoying the hug for the moment... AND the kiss upon her forehead, which was very surprising considering where they were though a very welcome bonus. "I think I did most of the running," she murmured with a soft chuckle, tightening her arms around him just the slightest because it felt like forever since the last they hugged, despite all that has been going on back home to keep her attention elsewhere.

The faint tug under her foot however caught her attention. What what?

"Oh!" Good gosh, "Sŭzhalyavam, Pebbles." Lifting her foot, she took a step back, spotting the SCARF-LESS and JACKET-LESS rock in the small mountain of snow that surrounded her. How was that even a possibility?

Did Teddy just say ouch? Come on, it's just several light punches on his shoulder and it's not that really hurt comparing to her dislocated shoulder. He really had a low pain threshold, huh? "It's not that hurt, Teddy bear." She gave her one more light punch to him. There! Didn't he realize that he actually made TWO mistakes? Yes, two. First is drowning himself to study so he didn't really have a time to see her and two, made her waiting for a loooooong time until she's almost freezing.

He just fell down from the stairs? "You didn't break any bones, did you?" The young lioness asked. But it seemed like he was fine, just a minor injury on his knee. Well, that can be cured easily. "You don't need to worry about that, and the ripping trousers. We can fix that." And she didn't think covering that wound was a good idea. "But you could still walk, right? We can do it later." Hehehehe....

Ava didn't know that her twin brother knew Owen already. But that was good. Teddy wasn't a really antisocial person, he's just shy. "Oh, I see. I kinda miss Henry though." She said to Owen. Too bad that he couldn't find that boy. And did he laugh at her when she threw the punch and ask the galleon to Teddy? Hehehe.

"Shall we go to Honeydukes?" She asked the boys. Come on, who doesn't want to be there? That was the greatest (and the only) candy shop in this place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

A little stumble, but nothing too bad. She barely noticed, enjoying the hug for the moment... AND the kiss upon her forehead, which was very surprising considering where they were though a very welcome bonus. "I think I did most of the running," she murmured with a soft chuckle, tightening her arms around him just the slightest because it felt like forever since the last they hugged, despite all that has been going on back home to keep her attention elsewhere.

The faint tug under her foot however caught her attention. What what?

"Oh!" Good gosh, "Sŭzhalyavam, Pebbles." Lifting her foot, she took a step back, spotting the SCARF-LESS and JACKET-LESS rock in the small mountain of snow that surrounded her. How was that even a possibility?

That was bad, right? That she had done most of the running and it had not been an equal effort? He had read about this sort of thing, you know. The importance of equal efforts in a relationship. DID THIS MEAN HE WAS NOT FULFILLING SAID ROLE?!

WAS HE NOT ADEQ---

Oh no wait. She was laughing. All was well with the universe. Well, the little universe that they had created right now with their embrace that is.

And yes, his ears were turning an enchanting shade of crimson right now. And not because of the cold.

Tugging Pebbles all the way to his foot, he reached down and plucked her from the snow to set her on one of the windowsills behind him so he could have his hands free for this. It had been a while since he had done a muggle magic trick, let alone one on Medea, so he was tingly all over in anticipation of her reaction.

"Just hold on to this," he said, handing over his wand for a bit of added theatrics. Crossing his hands one over the other, the astronomer began to wiggle his fingers all while keeping eye contact with Medea. He may have become lost in those deep chocolate eyes of hers, but he had not forgotten the task at hand. Quite literally, waving his hands about a bit more to mask the fact that his left was reaching into his right sleeve, Airey produced a very impressive bouquet of autumn colored flowers. A few months late in terms of theme, but nevertheless an aesthetically pleasing arrangement AND sentimental as well. "Just a bit of wandless magic to remind you of the time it all began. Officially."

Not the unofficial ice cream induced snog in the Tower Patch. Sweet solstice what would his students do if they knew!? Especially after the detention he had handed out start of term.

Merlin, they were all so tiny! Except for Owen. Kid probably got a growth spurt at age 8.

Anyhow, the Slytherin beamed at everyone and gave them approving nods being excited and whatnot. Lucky they’ll have six more years of Hogsmeade fun! Speaking of almost graduating, Ethan turned to Ava as he scratched the back of his head. “I have to hit the books you know. Seventh year and all.” Which was great, and sucked at the same time. He loved being a senior student really, but his NEWT exam sucks the fun out of it.

“Oh, you guys were? Will you be meeting Zhenya today?” Ethan looked around them, wondering if his fellow ex-Slytherin was there. It would be great to catch up with her too, and maybe she’d give him tips on how to ace his own NEWT?

...

Then there was Teddy. “I suppose you are well, my dear junior Watson?” Ethan’s grin turned into a frown as he eyed the gash on his leg, “Well, I suppose you are not entirely well.” The older student got a small tube from his pocket and offered it to Teddy. “This healing paste should do the trick. This has been tried and tested many times.” He said with an outstretched hand. How many times did his legs, arms, and head bleed from skateboard accidents, eh? He lost count.

...

The Slytherin then turned to the Hufflepuff in the group with a chuckle. Hee-haw, eh? “No, you’re doing it wrong, Owen. It’s like this.” Ethan cleared his throat, and his face got all serious. “HEE-HAAAAAAAAAAW!!! HEE-HAAAAWWW!!!” Hehehehehe. “Yeah, hello to you too.” Ethan gave the kid a good slap on his arm, and threw his arm around his shoulder as he addressed everyone in the group. “Well, to answer everyone’s question, nope, I’m not waiting for anyone. I’m just about to get some supplies in the bookstore over there, and probably get something nice to drink.” He said grinning. “How about you lot? What’s the agenda?”

Biting the inside of her lip as Pebbles was lifted from the snow, frowning just a tad, her attention was diverted elsewhere before she could comment on the lack of warmth. Oh? Her eyebrows raised as she took the offered wand. What in Merlin's beard did he have that required her to hold his wand?

Curious stares you were getting, Mister Flamsteed.

Nevertheless, whatever the reason, it was exciting. Especially with all the movement that was going on, like a miniature show. Just for her. Though she may have leaned back a tad, what with all the hand waving going on, but before she knew it...

"Oh!" her mouth dropped a lot little, though a warm smile began to replace the surprise that no doubt was present upon her expression. "Airey... these are vonderful. Absolutely beautiful." As beautiful as it was heart-warming to know that he remembered these important moments. Stepping forward, she leaned up and placed a gentle kiss upon his cheek before carefully taking the flowers.

Oh, they smelled divine too. "You shouldn't haff."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Biting the inside of her lip as Pebbles was lifted from the snow, frowning just a tad, her attention was diverted elsewhere before she could comment on the lack of warmth. Oh? Her eyebrows raised as she took the offered wand. What in Merlin's beard did he have that required her to hold his wand?

Curious stares you were getting, Mister Flamsteed.

Nevertheless, whatever the reason, it was exciting. Especially with all the movement that was going on, like a miniature show. Just for her. Though she may have leaned back a tad, what with all the hand waving going on, but before she knew it...

"Oh!" her mouth dropped a lot little, though a warm smile began to replace the surprise that no doubt was present upon her expression. "Airey... these are vonderful. Absolutely beautiful." As beautiful as it was heart-warming to know that he remembered these important moments. Stepping forward, she leaned up and placed a gentle kiss upon his cheek before carefully taking the flowers.

Oh, they smelled divine too. "You shouldn't haff."

Despite how many years it had been, Airey still felt like a prepubescent boy being given a kiss on the cheek by his crush at the Yule Ball - a ball he had never had a date for, by the way, so he was really just imagining what it would feel like. And from what he recalled from his dormmates who had gone talking about over breakfast the next day.

Needless to say, the man's ears were the color of the Rosette Nebula now and he had to look down at the ground while swinging his arms back and forth in front of himself as a distraction.

Nice looking pile of snow right there. Yup.

"...but I wanted to..."

Sabbath dawdled his way into Hogsmead. As he walked, he'd been reading a letter from home that had arrived by owl that morning, he'd stopped several times to re-read a few sections and laughed out loud at some of the anecdotes written within, it made progress slow.

When he arrived on the high street, he could hear some folk music being played by some local buskers and he folded the letter popping it into his pocket. Picking up the pace, his footfalls matched time with the beat of the music. As he got closer, he saw a familiar figure, it was Nells, and she was dancing with the busking boy. He grinned as he approached, she looked so happy and carefree, spinning around with her hair flying out. Hey Nells, he called.

Keeping the flowers in close proximity, since the aroma was indeed an absolutely divine mix with the crisp chilly air, she smiled and reached up two fingers to place upon his lips momentarily in a perhaps not so accurate Vulcan kiss... but he surely got the point. "Thank you, moya lyubov."

If only she could put them in water right away.

Sliding up next to him, she slowly linked her arm with his. "How haff you been? And, vhy isn't Pebbles vearing anything?"

Ashlynn smiled looking up at the new person she had just met. She was pretty and she looked like her mommy a little. "You're pretty and you look like my mommy." But her mommy was prettier.

Adeline shook her head when she was listening to Ashlynn speak. She had to admit to herself that kids were smarter than they let you believe. Adeline looked back up at Paulina. "Yes." She knew who it was, she wasn't and she couldn't deny it as much as she wanted to. To be honest she wanted nothing to do with her past or her family for how they treated her. She was the outcast of the family and wanted to leave them in the past. "It's...um...nice to see you, Paulina." She said slightly biting her tongue.

"YOU KNOW MY MOMMY!!!!" Ashlynn let go of her mother's hand and started flailing. The seven year old calmed down a bit and beamed. "My mommy is bestest person in the world!!" She nodded a few times. "Oh and my daddy is too!!! I love my mommy and daddy so much!!. Like...DIS MUCH!!" Ashlynn opened her arms as wide as she could. She wanted to get her point across.

Paulina continued to smile at Ashlynn because she honestly wasn't sure what to say to that comment. Maybe Adeline wouldn't want it to be known that they were sisters because they weren't exactly close. She hadn't seen her sister in about 11 years, so she wasn't sure how to feel right now. "It's nice to see you too, Adeline."

This. Was. So. Awkward.

Should she ask about things? Or would Adeline not want that? Paulina was rather at a loss as to what she should do. "Yes, I've known her for a long time," she said in response to Ashlyn when all other words failed her. "I'm glad you love your parents so much." That was always a good thing, especially after what had happened with Adeline.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Keeping the flowers in close proximity, since the aroma was indeed an absolutely divine mix with the crisp chilly air, she smiled and reached up two fingers to place upon his lips momentarily in a perhaps not so accurate Vulcan kiss... but he surely got the point. "Thank you, moya lyubov."

If only she could put them in water right away.

Sliding up next to him, she slowly linked her arm with his. "How haff you been? And, vhy isn't Pebbles vearing anything?"

He could not say for certain, seeing as he was not looking at his own reflection in one of the store windows for obvious reasons, but it was safe to say that Medea had just discovered a new shade of red for the astronomer's ears to turn.

Question. She had just asked a question. Words, Flamsteed.

But the man was too far gone in La La Land to really care about something so trivial as words right now.

But the mention of Pebbles did bring his head out of the clouds and he wet his lips before speaking. "I uuuuuuuuh....I don't know," he gasped as though he had just discovered an asteroid heading for earth on a full on collision course for San Francisco - where Star Fleet Academy would eventually be built. "She has never worn anything out before, save for Halloween....SWEET SOLSTICE!"

Teddy nodded at Owen's suggestion of covering it up. "Yeah, I don't want to get any bugs in it. I have a tissue somewhere," he said, pulling it out of his pocket. But then Ethan was there, offering him some sort of cream. Teddy had a little chuckle at being called junior Watson, a name he was very proud of. "Oh thanks Sherlock," he said, totally serious. No hint of a laugh. No, why would he laugh? Ethan WAS Sherlock. He dabbed a little onto the gash, after dabbing away more excess blood. And the relief was... well, it was INSTANT. "What IS this cream?" he asked his detective friend. He would have to get some! "No broken bones," he said to Ava. He had checked. "But the trousers are all fixed and clean anyway, see?" No blood or rips visible.

And then Sherlock opened his mouth and let out an embarrassing HEE HAWW! As embarrassing as it was, though, Teddy couldn't stop laughing.

And wait... did Sherlock say BOOKSTORE? Teddy's laughter faided away. "Bookstore? Actually there are a few books I want to look at..." So yes, his vote was on bookstore. At least at SOME point, though he was sure Ava would prefer Honeydukes. Not that Teddy would put up ANY debate about going there either.

.... And there went Ava, already suggesting Honeydukes. At the sound of the store, Teddy's stomach let out a loud rumble, making him grin. "I want to go to Honeydukes," he said, remembering his low stock of lollies and chocolate under his bed. He needed more!

Well that was just...

"Vell, no matter," she said, snapping out of the fleeting bewilderment. Starting down the street, she tugged Airey along with her. And Pebbles, he had a hold on her, right? "I am quite certain there is a clothing shop around here somevhere, if memory serves me correctly. Perhaps there is something small enough?"

Speaking of shops, her cheeks burned a little at the sight of madame puddifoots.

Oh the memories.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Well that was just...

"Vell, no matter," she said, snapping out of the fleeting bewilderment. Starting down the street, she tugged Airey along with her. And Pebbles, he had a hold on her, right? "I am quite certain there is a clothing shop around here somevhere, if memory serves me correctly. Perhaps there is something small enough?"

Speaking of shops, her cheeks burned a little at the sight of madame puddifoots.

Oh the memories.

The tug was completely superfluous as the man was already making purposeful steps towards Gladrags Wizardwear with Pebbles tucked under his other arm. How COULD he be so INCONSIDERATE?!

"Yes. Quickly. INSIDE!" the man declared as he had now fully taken the lead and tugged Medea into the shop.

Laughing as she spun the boy around, Noelle heard a familiar voice. Turning, she beamed at her favorite person. "SABBIE!!" She exclaimed happily and gave the small boy a hug and a promise to dance with him again but she wanted to dance with her very best friend.

The boy understood, thank Merlin, and Noelle grabbed Sabbie's hand. "Dance with me?" Noelle asked, but it wasn't a request because she knew Sabbie would. He had that gypsy blood that made him an instant dancer. Of course he could dance loads better than she could.

Noelle didn't wait for an answer and was already spinning in the snow.