'BUTTERBEER!'

Isabella was saved. In a matter of moment's her thirst would be quenched by the delicious drink of a frozen butterbeer and possibly some fudge in this warm summer heat. The crimson red cart was only a few minutes away whereas going to the espresso house would take a lot longer. Blowing some sweaty damp black strands out of her face the short, 12 year old snakette slowly made her way over to the cart, trying to not loose the grip on her many shopping bags.

Just as she came up to the cart and was about to order a butterbeer from the young chubby man behind the cart the shopping bags slipped out of her fingers and fell to the ground causing a number of beauty products including a bottle of extreme purple hair dye and a pimple poofer potion, school books and a fanged frisbee to roll out.

"COME on! Not now! I was so close...." Bella said to nobody in particular with an exasperated sigh.

Freddie had most of his shopping done with Frankie and Lucy. It was hard decision for him deciding to go back to Hogwarts or not, but he missed the halls and all the bad guys were taken care of so. Here he was in Diagon Alley again. Deciding to go off on his own he had some money left to treat himself.

Walking through the south side his eyes caught a number of people when out of the crowd he noticed a girl fall to the ground. He blinked, walking through the crowd, most who didn't bat an eye toward her.

"Hey, you okay?" Freddie asked. "Do you need a hand?" Offering one out for her, giving him a chance to take a look at all that she was holding. Hair care products, books, and- "Heeey that's a fanged frisbee, you play that often?" Oops, so much for giving her much of a chance to talk. "Sorry, looks like you got some cool stuff, I'm Freddie." Now he just had to know who she was and what was up.

Bella was kneeling down on the ground trying to gather up her supplies that had fallen out of their bags, her frustration increasing by the minute. It wasn't going as planned, so when someone came over like a shadow offering his help like a hero she could have jumped up on her feet and kissed him or her for offering. Bella didn’t do that though even if she thought it, she just looked up at the boy and beamed brightly. "I'm okay! Yes please, any help is much appreciated. I just need to get my school supplies back into the bags."

Gesturing to the stuff strewn around and the bags she explained hastily. "I didn’t do this on purpose. The bags just slipped out of my sweaty fingers...and the rest is history as they say." Bella was most likely going back to Hogwarts in September since the bad guys were behind bars now. It wasn’t easy to just erase what the Neo-Alliance had done though and the fear she had felt.

Looking down at the fanged frisbee at her feet to not think about the bad guys she shook her head as she met the other boy’s eyes curiously. "No I've actually never played it. I thought it’d be cool to try so i bought it. Have you played a lot of fanged frisbee? Is it easy to play?" Remembering her manners even if it was a little late Bella said "It's nice to meet you Freddie. I'm Isabella or Bella for short."

With his shopping all completed, Evan was just about ready to head home and hunker down again until time for the train, even if that was still some time away. But each time he passed, his eyes were drawn to the little butterbeer cart and he could feel his mouth water at the idea of a frozen butterbeer. Or maybe even some butterbeer ice cream? It was the perfect day for ice cream because what day wasn't?.

Passing it for what would be the final time that day, he could feel his resilience break and the young man pivoted to approach the cart. He gave a nod of hello to the guy running the cart and did stop to nod at the picture too, because everyone deserved to be remembered, before he focused on the menu.

Frozen butterbeer? Ice cream? Or just a copious amount of fudge?

Decisions.

Freddie smiled down at her, "Sure, I'll help," before kneeling as well to pick up some of her books and things. Looking at some of her books however also got his attention, "Oh, cool you have second year books, I'm also going into second year." He couldn't help the relief that came from knowing this. He had no idea who would even return to the school after last year, he was lucky his parents were okay with him returning.

He blinked at her dilemma not realizing he was gripping the fanged frisbee in his hands, before it made a little snarl, loosening his grip at the sound. "Oh! These are really fun! Me and my twin brother have one back at home and our parents even join in sometimes." His eyes practically lit up at the happy memory. Beaming at getting to know her name next. "That's such a cool name Bella.. say, what house are you in? I'm in Gryffindor, but my twin brother, Frankie, got into Slytherin like my older sister Lucilla. But it's cool." He then remembered he was about to ramble again, "Well, I was curious because we could try to play it out on the grounds."

Today's shopping trip had been all about the pink pygmy puff that was currently tucked snuggled against Lia's neck fast asleep. That's what she had told everyone at home when she asked to be taken to Diagon Alley earlier that morning. Sir Frederik was in need of some new things and she wanted to keep him happy and comfortable, especially now that he was getting up there in age.

Really what she had needed was a little time to wander around on her own but also, not on her own. Several stops were made to some of her most favorite shops as usual but not all that much was bought. She had kept her word as best as a twelve year could and tried to only spend her coins on her companion today.

Only....

Blue eyes zoned in on the cart before she could manage to hurry past it and before she knew what was happening she was standing on the short line. The day was warmer than most and butterbeer was oh so very nice, a little couldn't hurt, right? Annnnnnd if she shared it with Sir Frederik Puffington than it counted towards his special day!

Lia stood in line behind a boy that was a bit taller than her, lightly bouncing on on her toes. Now to decide what she wanted.

Decisions should not be this hard to make. He was just trying to decide on a delicious summer treat for pete's sake, yet still staring at the menu like it was a do or die situation. Fudge. Frozen. Or ice cream.

Hearing footfalls behind him, Evan turned to spot a slightly shorter girl and he offered a nod of acknowledgement. "I'm probably going to take a minute if you want to go before me." He stepped off to the side to give her space to move in front of him, while he went back to contemplating the menu. "Do you have a favorite?"

He was fully aware the primary flavor was all the same, but forms were important. Texture was just as important as taste most of the time. what if he chose the wrong texture and then didn't enjoy it at all? One of the things he loathed to do was waste money as well. Maybe he should get the ice cream or frozen butterbeer now and fudge for later?

Decisions.

Lia gave the taller boy a soft smile when he spoke to her and told her she could go ahead of him. "Are you sure? I don't mind waiting?" Truth being, she wasn't entirely sure what SHE wanted as of yet either. "I normally get the frozen butterbeer but I'm considering going with something different?" But... what?

When it came to ice cream she normally got that at Florean's. Fudge she typically would get at Sugarplums. Which is why she got the frozen kind here. Her system worked. If she stuck with it.

"Do you have a favorite?" Or a suggestion?

Evan nodded his head when she asked if she could go ahead of him. He still didn't quite have a smile in him but he tried to look less.. miserable. "Absolutely. I'm not sure how long it'll take me to decide." It could be ages. Or he might just cave and go for a big order.

Like... would they put a scoop of the ice cream in a butterbeer so then he could have like a butterbeer float? Because that sounded kind of amazing.

"Frozen butterbeer does sound good... I love the butterbeer ice cream at Florean's too though so part of me was wondering if they might taste similar?" Florean's was too far away to go get a scoop but he could still go for one. "I don't think I've actually tried anything from here though. Fudge also kind of sounds good...."

While she didn't move ahead of him in line, Dahlia did move forward a step or two to stand somewhat beside him. This helped in having a better view of menu... not that she even needed it. "Being a bit indecisive? I'm sorta having the same issue myself." Honestly she was having this issue a lot lately and not only where it concerned ice cream, fudge or a frozen drink.

Dahlia gave a quiet giggle as she listened to boy try to talk out almost exactly what she had been thinking in her own head. "Why not get it all then? If you can afford it and want it all that is..." she shrugged her shoulders. "You can put the eat some of the ice cream as is and put some of it into the frozen drink and then save the fudge for later or eat it." If he could handle all of that. Now that she mentioned it.. it sounded really, really good.

"Maybe, I'll do that. There's nothing wrong with splurging a little sometimes, right?"

Well, it was that time of year again when Leo got a little sad. He loved, loved, LOVED the summer with all the kids running and screaming around. His shop was busy every day and the excitement of the customers always rubbed off on him and his excitement would grow. Now that schools were back in session he found himself less busy and with more time to move around the alley.

On one of his walks during a nicer day, he decided maybe to try a new treat or even mix a treat with his own. He was after all pushing his little ice cream cart around to see if anyone would like some samples and free treats.

Stopping though he thought a butterbeer sounded quite refreshing.

Strolling through the South side of Diagon Alley, the New York native yawned as his eyes perused the windows and the things that they had on offer in a bored fashion. London was nice and all but it just wasn’t the same as New York. Everything just seemed so small. New York, it had this suffocating feeling that just made you feel safe and secure and you could get practically everything you needed within walking distance. It was perfect. Like now for example, back home, he could simply reach out and get a Butterbeer without even loo-…

“Butterbeer cart…noice”

Laughing a little to himself, he brushed some of his hair out of his face and headed over to the cart, curious if they sold one that would stay cold long enough for him to get home to the flat to give it to Cian. Poor kid was still moping around after his stupid cat.

Standing in the queue, Jude tapped the person in front of him who seemed to be an expert in all things cold, what with his ice cream cart near, and asked “Hey guy, you know if they sell ones that stay cold for a while?”

With his order being made Leo turned to his cart and took out a few scoops of the vanilla bean that was in their for tasting and plopped it right into his cup. Paying he was about to turn when he heard someone asking a question.

"Of course they do. This place has it all. I come here almost daily, there is not a way they make it that you could go wrong, but if you think it will get warm you can always put a cooling charm on it." That was what he did with his ice cream cart at least. The ice cream stayed just right all day long.

"Trying to save it for that special someone?" Not that he was meddling in a strangers business, but Leo loved a good looooove story.

“Oh...yeah”

Laughing a little, Jude ran his hand through his hair again and just laughed a little, bemused at his own stupidity sometimes. Honestly, being a wizard was almost an afterthought sometimes. Like, he’d spent soooo long not using magic outside of one of the various schools he went to that now that he could actually use spells, it almost felt wrong.

“You know, you’d think I would have thought about that but nope. Didn’t even cross my mind at all. Thanks my man. Now all I need to do is decide if I want a snack”. Maybe ordering an ice cream would help his situation because the ability to actually do a cooling charm may or may not be beyond his ability. He was sure some teacher had tried to teach him at some point in his life but he’d most likely been too busy with er…something.

“I mean, not really. He’s a pain in the backside to be honest but you know, I’m a nice person”, an innocently sweet yet somewhat sarcastic smile crossing his face now. “It’s for my younger brother. He’s err…staying with me for a while and his cat just had a terrible accident”. Dipping his ever so slightly, the impish smile that was across his face was replaced by a slightly gloomy look. “Turns out sometimes it doesn’t matter if cats land on their feet. Anyway, I figured a little butterbeer might cheer him up”. Did he mention that the cat was fine and that if anything were to happen to it, it would most likely have been because of him? No? Ooops. Never mind. Okay, so technically, the cat was fine back in New York but a guy could hope, right?

Younger brothers, oh Leo knew all about them. "I have one of them, well not too much younger I guess, just four year younger, but still younger. Are you the oldest then?" He was assuming he was since he was having the brother move in, but maybe the brother was an adult and not a kid like Leo was thinking. "Animals can make people really upset, they get attached and things." He was attached to his little teacup yorkie that was at home waiting on him.

Moving to his cart he pulled out two small dishes of the ice cream samples. "These are on the house today and go fabulous with the butter beer, maybe this can cheer your brother up and give you a sweet snack too." He was flirting honest, okay maybe he enjoyed flirting with all his customers, it was just fun and seriously nice was something that could go a long way.

"So you have lived here long and your brother is just moving here or have you both lived around here?" Leo really had no where to go and the Alley seemed pretty lame today so he thought maybe he'd show some interest for awhile.

Jude simply nodded and smiled a little, bemused by the other man’s prattling’s about his own family. It was still strange to him how people in London would often stop and just chat away as if they weren’t busy and didn’t have a plethora of things to do. In New York, people would sooner grunt and shout some kind of profanity at you than stop and ask you about your family. “Brothers are a pain, honestly. And sisters. Especially sisters but you know, family. Am I right?” laughing a little now as he took a step forward to place his own order too. “Nah, I’m not the oldest. I have two older brothers, two younger brothers and a younger sister” which even when he said it all, it sounded like a lot but he was used to it. For some reason, other people always seemed shocked. “I got the good looks and striking personality. Bless them, they work hard though”, amused by his own little joke now. As for animals, he knew all too well about people getting attached to them. “Yeah, they really do, even when they’re not supposed to have them” because the stupid kid wasn’t even allowed them in the first place.

Grinning a little, he took the two samples and nodded appreciatively at them. “Oh, sweet! I mean I hope so. I appreciate this, thank you!”. Part of him almost wished he had something to offer in return but he didn’t even have a job and he was living of other people’s money, so, ya know… “If you’re ever in New York and you want somewhere to grab a bite to eat, go to hit up MacAfee’s. It’s an Irish place. My family owns it. Tell them Jude sent you, I’m sure they’ll give it to you for free”. He may not be able to offer something he had but he could give away a free pizza or something. Besides, the guy most likely would never even end up going to New York.

“Eh, I’ve been back and forth for a while. Hogwarts. You know how it is. Only just moved here though so not that long. I’m kind of looking for a job actually so if you know someone who pays well and can offer a guy a job with no questions asked, let me know” laughing a little now because he knew how dodgy he actually sounded. Oops. “What about you? I’m guessing you’ve lived here for a while?” judging from the ice cream cart that he was lugging around.

It has been a long day so far. Since it was so, so hot, Jude decided that the best way to cool down would be to grab himself a frozen butterbeer. So far, he’d been having a peaceful day doing his Hogwarts shopping. He hadn’t managed to run into Evan and that was a huge relief to him. Jude had fought very hard to put Evan out of his mind by throwing himself into his dance lessons and Gobstones training.

Jude uttered a word of thanks to the man selling the butterbeer then quickly took a sip of the beverage. It hit the spot. That butterbeer really did. It actually made him feel revitalised and ready to get more of the shopping done.

Mercer had slipped his mum and his twin, and he had ONE GOLDEN GALLEON clutched in this little hands. He could spend it on anything, a gift from his granddad, but it also totally overwhelmed him to have all these possibilities. He wanted one of those frozen butterbeers, but if he bought it, once it was gone... so was his super magical galleon.

He sighed and stared at the butterbeer cart with huge sad eyes. A broken kitten of a child.

It was high summer and it was hot. Bella felt warm and sweaty and tired which wasn't great, since being in Diagon Alley should be awesome especially, when she was here to shop for school stuff and other things. The black haired soon to be fourth year snakette steered her steps towards the butterbeer cart to get a frozen pick me up drink. It was urgently needed before she went to flourish and blotts to by her new school books and something extra to read.

Bella took her place in the queue not taking in who stood in front of her in the line until a boy turned around with a frozen butterbeer in hand. Recognizing him Bella smiled and called out with a hand wave. "Hey Jude! Are you here to buy your school supplies too?"

This place felt strange. This very particular place, around this very particular cart. And yet Milo was drawn here, in spite of himself, every time he came to Diagon Alley, even though the strange feeling was not the good or even curious kind of strange. Mostly he had always wanted to look at the photograph of the old woman on the cart, which then led to questions, which had resulted in conversations, which ended with an almost-understanding of why this place felt the way that it did.

Milo was back again today, having wandered from Rose and Des without having announced he was doing so. He intended to look at the photo again, but there was a someone. A someone in his standing space.

Momentarily distracted, Milo stood by the someone's side and looked between that terribly sad face and the butterbeer cart a few times. "She's dead," he announced. Explaining. Helpful.

SPOILER!!: Gobstones Rival *whaa*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nordic Witch

It was high summer and it was hot. Bella felt warm and sweaty and tired which wasn't great, since being in Diagon Alley should be awesome especially, when she was here to shop for school stuff and other things. The black haired soon to be fourth year snakette steered her steps towards the butterbeer cart to get a frozen pick me up drink. It was urgently needed before she went to flourish and blotts to by her new school books and something extra to read.

Bella took her place in the queue not taking in who stood in front of her in the line until a boy turned around with a frozen butterbeer in hand. Recognizing him Bella smiled and called out with a hand wave. "Hey Jude! Are you here to buy your school supplies too?"

Jude really liked it when people greeted him with ‘Hey Jude’. It reminded him of that particular song by The Beatles. Turning now, he saw Bella. She was someone he was on friendly terms with even if they did compete against each other when it came to Gobstones. And this was both at Hogwarts and when they played for their respective Under 17 teams.

“Hey there, Bella.” Jude nodded and raised his butterbeer bottle. “I am. But I needed a little pick-me-up. It’s hotter out here than usual, I think.” Yeah, it wasn't as though it was advised to wear mittens or some wintery clothing. Examining the Slytherin a bit closer, he thought she looked sweaty and worked up. That would possibly explain why she was here at the cart. “Are you looking forward to our training sessions with the professional players?” Because he certainly was!

"Dead?" Mercer's sad sack expression disappeared as he considered the photo on the butterbeer cart. Surely that was the person this other person referenced... not that the cart itself was dead. Or the dude standing there selling butterbeer. He wasn't dead, was he? Inferi. Zombie guy.

"Why do they put up her picture? Why don't they give out free butterbeer in her memory?" Mercer bounced in place a little, just THINKING about getting both the frozen butterbeer and keeping his magic galleon. "What's her name? How'd she die? Should we have a moment of silence in her honor?"

SPOILER!!: I FOUND YOU TWO!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

Mercer had slipped his mum and his twin, and he had ONE GOLDEN GALLEON clutched in this little hands. He could spend it on anything, a gift from his granddad, but it also totally overwhelmed him to have all these possibilities. He wanted one of those frozen butterbeers, but if he bought it, once it was gone... so was his super magical galleon.

He sighed and stared at the butterbeer cart with huge sad eyes. A broken kitten of a child.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felixir

This place felt strange. This very particular place, around this very particular cart. And yet Milo was drawn here, in spite of himself, every time he came to Diagon Alley, even though the strange feeling was not the good or even curious kind of strange. Mostly he had always wanted to look at the photograph of the old woman on the cart, which then led to questions, which had resulted in conversations, which ended with an almost-understanding of why this place felt the way that it did.

Milo was back again today, having wandered from Rose and Des without having announced he was doing so. He intended to look at the photo again, but there was a someone. A someone in his standing space.

Momentarily distracted, Milo stood by the someone's side and looked between that terribly sad face and the butterbeer cart a few times. "She's dead," he announced. Explaining. Helpful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

"Dead?" Mercer's sad sack expression disappeared as he considered the photo on the butterbeer cart. Surely that was the person this other person referenced... not that the cart itself was dead. Or the dude standing there selling butterbeer. He wasn't dead, was he? Inferi. Zombie guy.

"Why do they put up her picture? Why don't they give out free butterbeer in her memory?" Mercer bounced in place a little, just THINKING about getting both the frozen butterbeer and keeping his magic galleon. "What's her name? How'd she die? Should we have a moment of silence in her honor?"

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Unless you are one Mitsuki Rasting and then it was the most tedious time of the year. Every day a family outing and the requirement being that they worked around mum's busiest schedule so she could be a part of their journey was cumbersome and dragged things out. If she had been able to go out with her oldest brother, just the two of them, like she had wanted to...then she would have fulfilled all her school shopping obligations by now.

Alas. Here she was still with plenty to do on the list and the next trip out now having to accommodate for her grandfather too.

Spotting Mercer's profile as she strolled after escaping gushing over Yukie's robe fitting, her new companion on humming on her shoulder, the raven haired girl quickly change course to intercept and was even more pleased to see that her Little Spectre was with him as well. Were they friends? That made things so much easier. "You mean you can't sense her?" she questioned with almost a gleeful tone as she slinked up between the two of them. "This cart is teething with shadows." Smiling back and forth between the both of them, she pulled a little bag of salt from her pocket and poured a bit into her palm before offering to do the same to her friends. "And they have to keep her picture up there," she continued as she further invited herself into their conversation. Whoever it was that they were. "It is the easiest way to preserve her spirit. As long as mortal eyes have gazed upon her image, she will be remembered and soul protected, otherwise it will cease to exist and she fade into oblivion."

Salt in her palm she closed her fist and spun around, slowly, counter clockwise while little the granules slowly slip out and sprinkled on the ground and over her black sneakers.

They were gobstones rivals both when they played in the school and for their U-17 teams but off the pitch Bella saw Jude as guy she could become good friends with. Taking a long sip from her ice cold butterbeer bottle she made her way over to Jude. Nodding she agreed. "Yes, it's blazing hot today. I bet the temperature is close to 30 celcius or something." Which was why Bella wore no jacket or other similar fall clothes.

Taking another sip of the icey delicious substance she hoped it'd cool her off fast and make her look less sweaty and hot. Smiling brightly and enthusiatically Bella said "Yes I am, aren't you? It will be awesome to get to learn new tips and tricks from the professionals, don't you think Jude?" If Bella had enough money left after buying her school books then maybe she could buy that gobstones book she had been eyeing last week.