Open Post: Hogsmeade

[courageous_wit]

[it's Saturday, so it's time to kick back and enjoy the lovely sights of Hogsmeade. Have a drink at the Three Broomsticks, grab some sweets from Honeydukes, or dare to check out the famously haunted Shrieking Shack! Just kick back and enjoy yourselves today!

This is technically only open to third years and above, but if you can sneak out without teachers noticing more power to you!]

[Three Broomsticks | Honeydukes | Zonko’s Joke Shop | Hog’s Head | Shrieking Shack | and feel free to make own sections!]

Comments

[heloise]

You? Perhaps I might too.

[unvarnished]

[he glances down at their empty glass, then up to her face] All right. I'd better go get my broom.

[heloise]

And I will see you very shortly.

[unvarnished]

[August doesn't want to get too ahead of himself, but he does have high hopes for what might happen when they get to the Black Lake. And in the meantime, he can get his broom and they can go for a ride]

[heloise]

[ He can't be blamed for hoping when Lucrezia has gathered a reputation for being eternally single with a string of rumors of various trysts yet unproven. Where there's smoke... She is waiting as promised when he comes back, her hood up and crouched on the floor as she draws patterns on the ground. ]

[unvarnished]

[August pulls up on his broom, much like he would've if he were on a motorcycle. Except instead of his black leather jacket, the jacket is silver and he has Slytherin green gloves. He dismounts, smiling at her]

Hey.

[heloise]

[ She stands up after finishing a few last strokes before then stepping over whatever it was she drew to walk toward him. She reaches a hand, as if needing help to get on the broom at all. ]

Will it carry both of us?

[unvarnished]

Sure it will. And you can always hold onto me if you feel nervous. [he reaches for her hand, ready to help her onto the broom]

[heloise]

[ She'll take that reassurance with a smile. Maybe she only wanted to hear the words. And she's happy to take his hand when she climbs onto the broom behind him, letting go only to wrap her arms about his waist. ]

[unvarnished]

[riding a broom is easy for him. Probably how he managed to get onto the Quidditch team despite his laziness. August pilots them just fast enough that Lucrezia would want to cling onto him a little tighter. Hey, a guy's got to try!

Just like he is taking the long way back to Hogwarts so he an enjoy a few more minutes with her]

[heloise]

[ Ah, but she notices the shortcut he took, keeping the knowledge to herself. She has her own games to play, like holding on tightly and still trailing her fingers along his side to tickle him. Who's afraid of falling anyway? ]

[unvarnished]

[he grips the handle of his broom tighter, though it does waver a little thanks to her tickling. Hopefully she won't do that again or he might accidentally tip them into the lake, and that's a pretty bad way to start an evening]

[heloise]

[ She admits her guilt with a giggle, that wavering is enough to make her stop, leaning forward to rest her chin on his shoulder. Ride on, August! ]

[unvarnished]

[he chances a glance behind to make a face at her like the mature person he is. They do make it safely to the lake, and he carefully touches down and even helps her off. No hard feelings on that earlier tickling]

See, you were in safe hands with me, Lucrezia.

[heloise]

[ She sticks out a tongue at him in reply too. Most mature adults. Watch her take his help with all the graces of a proper lady, even trying to take his hand so she can place a kiss on the back of his fingers. ]

I always knew.

[unvarnished]

[his eyes sparkle and he presses his lips gently on her knuckles. Drawing away, he waves his wand and conjurs a single flower for her]

For you.

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia thrives on this sort of attention, which is why she's happy to entertain him if away from all the gossiping lips. And she knows precisely what to do with a flower, taking its scent before slipping it into her hair just above her ear. Thank yous aren't necessary in her book.

She just twirls about and starts skipping toward the edge of the lake, trailing laughter as she does. ]

[unvarnished]

[her putting it in her hair is a nonverbal thank you in his mind. August trails behind her, letting her alone for a while before hurrying to catch up with her. He reches for her before she reaches the lake's edge]

Careful. I think the merpeople are still grumpy about the dragon.

[heloise]

[ She turns with a giggle when he stops her. ]

Then we should apologize, should we not?

[unvarnished]

Mermish isn't a pleasant language to hear, but if you think it'll help I'll give it a shot.

[he crouches down to the water's edge, making some screeching noises. A merperson comes up and exchanges a conversation with him. August turns back to Lucrezia]

They know the dragon wasn't our fault.

[heloise]

[ She stoops beside him as he speaks to them, biting her lip expectantly. ]

No? Does that mean they will let us swim?

[unvarnished]

[he asks them, and they give their answer]

They said yes, as long as we leave them alone.

[heloise]

[ She just smiles at the merpeople, unable to say even good bye or thank you, reaching to squeeze August's arm in thanks. ]

When did you learn to speak thus?

[unvarnished]

I've always been good with languages. And when I was young, my father was lost at sea. The merpeople helped me find him.

[heloise]

[ She stands back up to start removing her cloak, if they're really going swimming! ]

What happened to your father?