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

[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?

[unvarnished]

We found each other again. [he leave it at that, not really wanting to talk about when he lost his father and started living on his own. Better to undo his tie and kick off his shoes to dip in the water]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia takes her shoes off too, placing them side by side before rolling up her cloak to rest it on top. The earth is wet and cool. She steps close to the edge to dip in her toes and swirl the surface about. She knows when an answer means he doesn't want to talk about it, but then she lets the silence hang to see what he would come up with. ]

[unvarnished]

[silence is fine sometimes. Especially on a nice day like this. They can sit here together watching a thestral occasionally come out of the forest to grab a passing bird-- or at least August can watch that. Who knows if Lucrezia sees them? He gives her a playful splash]

[lucre]

[ She was turning somber at the sight of Thestrals, even if she can't now remember why she can see them. The details are blurry but she knows he died in her arms, whoever it was. The splash brings back her chuckle, kicking up some water his way before she moves back to where she placed her cloak to start unbuttoning her shirt. ]

Do you swim?

[unvarnished]

Not very well. I just float, mostly. Like a log.

[that joke would be funnier if he had his true memories, and she knew who he really was]

[lucre]

[ She laughs, taking her shirt off with such nonchalance that she may have only been taking off an ornament, a bracelet, a necklace. ]

So long as you do not sink. I have not yet learned how to dive.

[unvarnished]

[oh Merlin she's taking her clothes off what is going on how did this happen. And here August is lamely sitting still in his uniform]

Ahh... I don't, um... We can just jump in?

[lucre]

Why not?

[ And she thinks she's doing him a favor by keeping her underwear on when she finally steps back to the lake's edge, grinning his way before she jumps into the water with a big splash. ]

[unvarnished]

[it takes him about two seconds to recover from the shock before he starts getting undressed to follow after her. Once he's down to his boxers he jumps in after her. The merpeople are keeping their distance and hopefully so will the squid.

August bobs back up, pushing his wet hair out of his face]

Whew. It's colder in here than I expected.

[lucre]

[ She dips her head in the water and slicks her hair back when she surfaces, giggling at him mostly from the chill. ]

I have been learning how to swim. [ She drifts away to a deeper end, kicking her legs to keep afloat. ] See?

[unvarnished]

I do see. You're good. [he just kind of bobs in the water. He doesn't really swim, but he does know some spells that can help if he needs to cheat]

[lucre]

You say that to please me.

[ She swims back to the shallower side so she can rest her legs, kicking up some mud in the process. ]

[unvarnished]

Is it working? [he smiles at her, appreciating how the water trickles down her body]

[lucre]

[ He gets a wide grin for that, even if she bows her head to hide it and even splashes some water his way. ]

Are you cool enough now?

[unvarnished]

Mmhm. [gives her a gentle splash in return] The water feels good after that firewhiskey.

[lucre]

[ She wades toward a side where she can mostly stand in place even if her feet still sink into the mud somewhat, holding out a hand for him to take. ]

Why did you come with me?

[unvarnished]

[he takes her hand, not sure what she wants him to do with it. Eventually he threads his fingers through hers]

I've been to Hogsmeade a thousand times. But I've never hung out at the lake with you before.

[lucre]

[ She clasps her hand against his and when she smiles, it is knowing, a plot hides behind it. ]

But why do you want hang out with me?

[unvarnished]

[because in AU world he's had a puppy crush on her since he was a first year, which she is likely very aware of despite his efforts to be subtle about it]

I didn't want to spend the afternoon by myself.

[lucre]

[ Poor boy. ]

So I could be anyone. Anyone at all.

[unvarnished]

I wouldn't want you to be just anyone, Lucrezia. I prefer you being you.