The House Compettion
Round 3
Ravencalw, DADA
(Profession) Baker
(Object) Blue bracelet
WC: 1103
The Golden Snitch
Nautical Ship Challenge
Angelina Johnson and Fred Weasley - S.S. Fregelina
The Fortune Bracelet
It was early in the morning, very early. Angelina stumbled down the narrow staircase that led from her bedroom down to her workspace below ground level. From the large window of her saleroom, she hushed a look at a group of young and tipsy witches laughing loudly as they wobbled home from a long night of partying.
Automatically, she threw wood into the ancient oven to preheat the monstrosity that took up most of the little space she had. She lit up the fire with a flick of her wand. Immediately it felt warmer in the basement baking room.
Angelina put a cattle above the flame and tied her hair together. She charmed her bracelet and filled her cup with tea. After the first sip, she was finally ready to get to work. Spreading flour across, she prepared her work table for the dough. Next she threw a huge lump of sour dough that she had prepared the previous day onto the table.
Flourdust hit her nostril making it hard for Angelina not to sneeze. Using her wand she seperated the dough into smaller more manageable pieces and began kneeling. Then she took a sharp knife and cut the bread loafs before shoving them into the oven.
As time passed it got hotter and hotter in the small baking room. Sweat was running down her temple which she wiped off with the gingham tea towel that was draped over her shoulder. The wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread filled the warm air.
Bit by bit the baskets were filled with merchandise. There was banana bread next to baguettes. Bread sticks were bundled and wrapped into paper, ready to be snacked on. Brioche as soft as a down-filled pillow was just waiting to be devoured and ciabatta and pita bread were waiting for her customers. Angelina also had whole grain bread and pumpernickel on offer for her more health conscious customers. She put the last batch of pretzels into the offen and packed baked goods into tote bags ready for owl-delivery.
A dozen owls were already sitting outside of her window just waiting for Angeline to send them back home with breakfast. She gave each of the birds a treat to keep them on their best behavior until she could fulfill the orders. What made it easier on her was that most people always ordered more or less the same.
She stocked the shelves of her shop and before she could even finish, the first people arrived. The first batch of customers consisted of mostly other shopkeepers. Next were the office witches and wizards and last were the socialites and stay-at-home parents who went shopping whenever it suited them.
After lunch, Angelina was completely sold out. She went back to the backing room to prepare for the following day. By four in the afternoon she was completely drained. All she wanted to do was have a long hot bath and crawl back into her bed.
She untied her hair and took off her jewelry. First the necklace and then the bracelet…
Her entire body went numb as she realized with horror that the blue bracelet was missing. It had been a gift from her late grandfather, she always wore it, even when she was sleeping. Lapis Lazuli was her lucky stone. It helped her through her matches, her exams, the hard times, and starting her own business.
Angelina rushed down the stairs nearly falling over her own feet. All she could think about was how she needed her bracelet back. Her arm looked empty without the rick blue against her dark complexion. She felt vulnerable and naked without it.
Hastly rummaging through her baking room, she tried to locate the missing bracelet. Angelina looked behind the stone ofen, the work table, and everywhere else, but all she managed to find was an old receipt that managed to slip through the cracks.
Her joints were aching, she wanted nothing more than to go to bed and rest, but she also knew that she wouldn't get a minute of sleep before she found her bracelet. So she walked to the saleroom and started looking there.
With a candle in her hand, Angelina looked underneath the counter. She searched behind the shelves and looked into every basket, but no matter how hard she tried she just couldn't locate her bracelet.
It was getting late. She would have to get up only a couple of hours later. Angelina was just so tired. She had been up on her feet for more than twenty hours, she was drained, and desperate.
Letting herself fall to the floor, she couldn't hold back the tears any longer. They were flowing down her cheeks like a river. She didn't even bother wiping her face. Angelina couldn't take it any longer, she just wanted this day to be finally over and to move on with her life. Why couldn't she just reset the day and get her bracelet back?
The ringing of the doorbell tore her out of her misery. She wiped her tears and took a deep breath before standing up.
Just behind the counter, she saw Fred Weasley standing. He had a big white cloth shoved into his mouth, but was still smiling at her with his trademark mischievous Weasley-smile.
Her heart jumped and Angelina was speechless. She just stared at him for a long moment. Fred pulled the blood-stained cloth out of his mouth and grinned at her, revealing a broken tooth in the corner of his mouth.
She rushed around the counter, to check up on him. Without thinking, Angelina placed her hand on his cheek and inspected the damage. Fred didn't seem to mind although they hadn't seen each other in years. Well technically, they saw each other frequently, but they haven't talked.
"You should go to St. Mungo's and have it checked out," she suggested.
Fred groaned. "Tomorrow."
They just stood there, close enough for their torso's to touch. Angelina was still stroking over his cheek with her thumb and their eyes were locked.
"We should see each other more often," he suggested and she nodded in trance.
"That would be lovely."
"Before I forget it, I found something in my bun…" Fred pulled a blue bracelet out of his jeans-pocket.
"You found it." Angelina jumped up and hugged him with all of her strength. "I'm so happy, I could kiss you."
"I wouldn't mind that."
She smiled at him and pressed a kiss onto his cheek. "Tomorrow after work?"
"I'll be there."