"Here we are," said Victoria. "Can you two believe we're fifth years already?"
"Absolutely not!" exclaimed Kathrine. "But what I find harder to believe is that we all managed to become Prefects! Especially me. Where did anyone ever think that I might be a good person to set positive examples at school? And what about Albert?"
Victoria shrugged. "He's only a Prefect because they needed a boy to make sure the male dorm was satisfied." This got a laugh out of both Kathrine and Albert. They began pulling books of the shelf as they talked about what their plans were for the year, and began to get more and more excited about returning to Hogwarts.
Things were going smoothly, and each of the three had an armful of books as they headed to the counter, stepping into the long line of people waiting to pay, when Kathrine brought up the dress robes again. "Well," she started up, "I wonder why dress robes were on our school list this year? It's very curious, don't you think? They've never had them on the list ever before. My brother never had them on his list either. Thankfully he finally graduated last year. I can enjoy my last three years with you two and the rest of the Ravenclaws with the exception of him and his annoying friends." Albert was back on his guard, since dress robes had come up yet again, but Victoria seemed fine with the idea. She was actually seeming excited.
"Well, I don't much care what they're for, as long as I can wear them. I found the most beautiful dress robes. I'll have to show you sometime soon, Kath. Albert had to loan me the money to pay for them, since I wasn't expecting to. I'll pay him back, however long it takes me, but for now I'm just going to enjoy having something pretty to wear."
"Well, I hope we have a banquet, or a dance or something that requires them. I do love to dance." Kathrine smiled at the thought.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Albert was looking very worried. "You don't think it will be a dance, do you? They wouldn't, they couldn't---"
"Correction," Victoria smiled, "they most certainly could. As to whether it will happen, nobody really knows. Why so upset at the idea of a dance? I've never taken dance lessons in my life, but the idea seems like a good one nonetheless. You, however, have been learning ballroom dancing since when...age four? Honestly, you have nothing to worry about."
Albert shook his head, his features downcast. "I've never been a good dancer. I'm not exactly the most graceful on my feet. It gets kind of akward learning to dance when you keep growing all the time."
"You can't possibly grow any taller," Victoria said, trying to cheer him. "You're already a full foot taller than I am."
"Yes," he said thoughtfully. "That's true. A foot taller than you, and nine inches taller than Kath."
The line had gone quickly, and it was soon their turn to pay. Kathrine stepped up to the counter first, pulling the exact number of Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts out of one of the large pockets in the skirt of her dress. Victoria and Albert were right behind her, stepping up when it was their turn, and all three left the store, arms full of books, and very happy.
"So where to next?" Kathrine asked.
"I'd like to go sit down somewhere," Victoria said. "All these books are quite heavy."
"I want to go stare at the new Comet."
Kathrine looked a bit confused. "Comet?" she questioned.
"It's the new broom out," answered Albert. "A true beauty." His eyes glazed over at the thought of the shiney new broom.
Kathrine shook her head with a wry smile. "Of course. Well, I'm seeing things Victoria's way at this point. I say we take a small break to rest our feet. There's the ice cream shop, just up the street. Come on," she said, grabbing Victoria by the arm with her free hand, "I'm hungry." Albert followed, frowning and wishing they had gone to look at the broom. Almost two-hundred yards away was a small sign with the words "Ilicia's Ice Cream Shoppe" on it in violet script.
Victoria's mouth was watering by the time they were approaching the small building, and she half-walked, half-skipped the last few yards. She dropped the bag with her dress robes in it onto a chair and let her books tumble onto the table. Albert and Kathrine had the same idea, and all three ran for the door to the inside of the shop. Albert made it first, his legs being the longest, and held it open, not waiting for the girls to enter as was customary, but simply racing inside himself and stopping just short of a long, white marble counter that ran the length of the shop. A young, slender woman was standing with her back to them, mixing something with one hand in a large tub and pulling out her wand with the other. Her wavy red hair fell to her waist, and she was singing to herself.
"Excuse me?" Albert started.
The young woman turned around, to reveal deep green eyes and a face sprinkled with freckles. She was quite beautiful, even in her simple navy work dress. "Yes? What would you like? We've got every flavor imaginable." She smiled, showing perfectly even white teeth.
"Um---um---I'd like, um---"
Victoria rolled her eyes and gave Albert a light shove to the side, coming up beside him. "He'd like a scoop of chocolate ice cream, with the little chocolate crumbles on top." She shook her head and covered her mouth with one hand, hiding it from Albert's view, and whispered, "He's not very good at being a charmer. I apologize. Kath and I," she pointed to Kathrine with her free hand, "are working on it." The young woman smiled again, and winked at Victoria.
"So, what will you be having then?"
"Do you have raspberry flavoured ice cream?" Victoria asked.
"Yes, of course we do. Like I said, we've got everything. And what can I get for you today?" she questioned Kathrine.
Kathrine looked at Albert, who was still staring at the young woman, and just barely managed to keep from laughing. "I'll have vanilla, please."
"Right then." Their server turned around, pulling out three small bowls of ice cream from a compartment that had been spelled with a simple freezing charm. She handed the bowls to each of the three, and then got out three silver spoons, setting them out on the counter alongside napkins. "I take it you're each going to pay seperately?"
"Oh no," jumped in Albert, trying to sound very mature and almost valiant, "I'm paying for them. Proper ladies should be treated with proper respect." He then pulled out his money bag, straightening and puffing out his chest a bit while he did so, and counted out coins into his hand. Once he had enough, he handed the money to their server and sat down, beginning to eat his ice cream. The way in which he did all these things caused Victoria to burst out laughing, and Kathrine to emit a loud and rather impolite snort. The young woman then headed to the back of the store, yet Victoria and Kathrine were still laughing, spoons in hand.
Albert looked at them for a moment, and then his eyes went to rest on the door their server had gone through. He blushed, turning a deep shade of crimson behind his tanned skin. "What are you laughing at?" he demanded, trying to act as if he didn't know.
"You don't know?" answered Kathrine, standing up and strutting about the room like a rooster. "I would think it would be obvious, considering how red you are right now. How come you're never try to impress Victoria or me that way?" she asked.
Albert reddened even more, if possible, but his answer was firm. "I don't think of either of you in that way. You know that."
Victoria let out a small burst of laughter at Albert's insistent face. "We know, we know. No need to get upset about it. The feeling's mutual. Anyway," she changed the subject to make the atmosphere more comfortable, "is everyone ready for another year of classes?"
"Ha-ha, that's a laugh. I may be ready for some, but the day I'm ready for potions with that Sintera woman is the day the sky collapses."
Kathrine shrugged. "I don't think she's that bad."
"That's because she likes girls, even if you are from Ravenclaw. She despises all men except the Slytherins. I want to know what she has against us."
"She's okay, but she is rather mean," Victoria came in. "I can't wait for defense against the dark arts. Professor Sanford is the greatest teacher."
"And charms," said Kathrine. "Professor Zilsand said we were going to be working on complex mind charms this year."
"Oh dear god," Albert mumbled, head in his hands. "You mean a professor might actually teach you some worthwhile love charms? That is one scary thought."
Kathrine gave him a light shove in his seat. "Is not. I'm not interested enough to bother testing one out on you anyhow."
Victoria shook her head, her hair whispering as the ends brushed along the back of her dress. "We have a new headmaster this year. I wonder who it is. There's all this talk of how the Ministry can't figure it out. Last I heard they were scheduling a vote. How strange is that? In the past it's always been that the heir to one headmaster goes through Hogwarts and then takes up that position."
"Except Professor Johnson was a tired old man who never got married," Albert pointed out.
"Kind of like what you're future is going to be, hm?" Kathrine teased.
"Just because I don't have a love interest is no reason to taunt me. You don't have one either, unless there's something you're not telling me. And neither does Vic."
"I can picture it now," said Victoria. "The three of us when we're all fifty, sitting around and talking about how horrible it was to never get married. But why worry about it now? We're only fifteen. Honestly, it's not that important."
"It is to me," Kathrine piped up. "Why d'you think I'm studying love spells? That way, even if I don't actually fall in love with someone, I can still manage to get a husband."
"That's horrible!" Albert laughed. Kathrine shrugged.
Victoria scraped the remains of her ice cream, which was now all melted, out of her bowl and stood up. She picked up her bowl and spoon, and Albert's as well (he was long finished) and walked them over to the counter, setting them down with a small clinking noise. She turned to move to the window and took a look outside, finding the sun. "It's getting late. The sun is beginning to set," she said. "I'm supposed to be home before then, and you with me," she told Albert. "Aside from that, it looks like it's going to rain soon. The sky is clouding over."
Albert nodded. "We ought to get going."
"But I haven't finished my ice cream yet," Kathrine complained. Victoria looked into Kathrine's bowl, which only had one large bite left in it. She raised an eyebrow pointedly, and Kathrine smiled. All right." She scooped up the remainder of the ice cream with her spoon and slid it into her mouth. She cleared her dishes to the counter as well, picked up her books, and caught up to Victoria and Albert, who were currently exiting through the door, mouth still full of ice cream.
Swallowing to clear her throat, she said, "Well, my mum's waiting for me at the small cafe down the street. I'll see you both in just under a week in carriage number...what number have we decided on this year?"
"Carriage number sixteen," Albert responded. "It doubles every year, remember?"
"Right then. Just get there early so that was get the right one," Kathrine said, and then headed down the street in the opposite direction from Gringotts, waving goodbye as she disappeared into the thinning crowd.
Albert looked up at the sky. "You're right, it is turning out to be very cloudy. And definitely rain clouds. Great way to end the summer."
"I don't know," Victoria said. "I happen to like the rain. It's cool, and clean, and refreshing, and it sounds nice, looks nice, feels nice, and---"
"I get the picture, Vic. We better be getting back, before your parents start to get worried. Your mother doesn't trust me as it is." He began to head towards Gringotts.
"Absolutely not!" exclaimed Kathrine. "But what I find harder to believe is that we all managed to become Prefects! Especially me. Where did anyone ever think that I might be a good person to set positive examples at school? And what about Albert?"
Victoria shrugged. "He's only a Prefect because they needed a boy to make sure the male dorm was satisfied." This got a laugh out of both Kathrine and Albert. They began pulling books of the shelf as they talked about what their plans were for the year, and began to get more and more excited about returning to Hogwarts.
Things were going smoothly, and each of the three had an armful of books as they headed to the counter, stepping into the long line of people waiting to pay, when Kathrine brought up the dress robes again. "Well," she started up, "I wonder why dress robes were on our school list this year? It's very curious, don't you think? They've never had them on the list ever before. My brother never had them on his list either. Thankfully he finally graduated last year. I can enjoy my last three years with you two and the rest of the Ravenclaws with the exception of him and his annoying friends." Albert was back on his guard, since dress robes had come up yet again, but Victoria seemed fine with the idea. She was actually seeming excited.
"Well, I don't much care what they're for, as long as I can wear them. I found the most beautiful dress robes. I'll have to show you sometime soon, Kath. Albert had to loan me the money to pay for them, since I wasn't expecting to. I'll pay him back, however long it takes me, but for now I'm just going to enjoy having something pretty to wear."
"Well, I hope we have a banquet, or a dance or something that requires them. I do love to dance." Kathrine smiled at the thought.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Albert was looking very worried. "You don't think it will be a dance, do you? They wouldn't, they couldn't---"
"Correction," Victoria smiled, "they most certainly could. As to whether it will happen, nobody really knows. Why so upset at the idea of a dance? I've never taken dance lessons in my life, but the idea seems like a good one nonetheless. You, however, have been learning ballroom dancing since when...age four? Honestly, you have nothing to worry about."
Albert shook his head, his features downcast. "I've never been a good dancer. I'm not exactly the most graceful on my feet. It gets kind of akward learning to dance when you keep growing all the time."
"You can't possibly grow any taller," Victoria said, trying to cheer him. "You're already a full foot taller than I am."
"Yes," he said thoughtfully. "That's true. A foot taller than you, and nine inches taller than Kath."
The line had gone quickly, and it was soon their turn to pay. Kathrine stepped up to the counter first, pulling the exact number of Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts out of one of the large pockets in the skirt of her dress. Victoria and Albert were right behind her, stepping up when it was their turn, and all three left the store, arms full of books, and very happy.
"So where to next?" Kathrine asked.
"I'd like to go sit down somewhere," Victoria said. "All these books are quite heavy."
"I want to go stare at the new Comet."
Kathrine looked a bit confused. "Comet?" she questioned.
"It's the new broom out," answered Albert. "A true beauty." His eyes glazed over at the thought of the shiney new broom.
Kathrine shook her head with a wry smile. "Of course. Well, I'm seeing things Victoria's way at this point. I say we take a small break to rest our feet. There's the ice cream shop, just up the street. Come on," she said, grabbing Victoria by the arm with her free hand, "I'm hungry." Albert followed, frowning and wishing they had gone to look at the broom. Almost two-hundred yards away was a small sign with the words "Ilicia's Ice Cream Shoppe" on it in violet script.
Victoria's mouth was watering by the time they were approaching the small building, and she half-walked, half-skipped the last few yards. She dropped the bag with her dress robes in it onto a chair and let her books tumble onto the table. Albert and Kathrine had the same idea, and all three ran for the door to the inside of the shop. Albert made it first, his legs being the longest, and held it open, not waiting for the girls to enter as was customary, but simply racing inside himself and stopping just short of a long, white marble counter that ran the length of the shop. A young, slender woman was standing with her back to them, mixing something with one hand in a large tub and pulling out her wand with the other. Her wavy red hair fell to her waist, and she was singing to herself.
"Excuse me?" Albert started.
The young woman turned around, to reveal deep green eyes and a face sprinkled with freckles. She was quite beautiful, even in her simple navy work dress. "Yes? What would you like? We've got every flavor imaginable." She smiled, showing perfectly even white teeth.
"Um---um---I'd like, um---"
Victoria rolled her eyes and gave Albert a light shove to the side, coming up beside him. "He'd like a scoop of chocolate ice cream, with the little chocolate crumbles on top." She shook her head and covered her mouth with one hand, hiding it from Albert's view, and whispered, "He's not very good at being a charmer. I apologize. Kath and I," she pointed to Kathrine with her free hand, "are working on it." The young woman smiled again, and winked at Victoria.
"So, what will you be having then?"
"Do you have raspberry flavoured ice cream?" Victoria asked.
"Yes, of course we do. Like I said, we've got everything. And what can I get for you today?" she questioned Kathrine.
Kathrine looked at Albert, who was still staring at the young woman, and just barely managed to keep from laughing. "I'll have vanilla, please."
"Right then." Their server turned around, pulling out three small bowls of ice cream from a compartment that had been spelled with a simple freezing charm. She handed the bowls to each of the three, and then got out three silver spoons, setting them out on the counter alongside napkins. "I take it you're each going to pay seperately?"
"Oh no," jumped in Albert, trying to sound very mature and almost valiant, "I'm paying for them. Proper ladies should be treated with proper respect." He then pulled out his money bag, straightening and puffing out his chest a bit while he did so, and counted out coins into his hand. Once he had enough, he handed the money to their server and sat down, beginning to eat his ice cream. The way in which he did all these things caused Victoria to burst out laughing, and Kathrine to emit a loud and rather impolite snort. The young woman then headed to the back of the store, yet Victoria and Kathrine were still laughing, spoons in hand.
Albert looked at them for a moment, and then his eyes went to rest on the door their server had gone through. He blushed, turning a deep shade of crimson behind his tanned skin. "What are you laughing at?" he demanded, trying to act as if he didn't know.
"You don't know?" answered Kathrine, standing up and strutting about the room like a rooster. "I would think it would be obvious, considering how red you are right now. How come you're never try to impress Victoria or me that way?" she asked.
Albert reddened even more, if possible, but his answer was firm. "I don't think of either of you in that way. You know that."
Victoria let out a small burst of laughter at Albert's insistent face. "We know, we know. No need to get upset about it. The feeling's mutual. Anyway," she changed the subject to make the atmosphere more comfortable, "is everyone ready for another year of classes?"
"Ha-ha, that's a laugh. I may be ready for some, but the day I'm ready for potions with that Sintera woman is the day the sky collapses."
Kathrine shrugged. "I don't think she's that bad."
"That's because she likes girls, even if you are from Ravenclaw. She despises all men except the Slytherins. I want to know what she has against us."
"She's okay, but she is rather mean," Victoria came in. "I can't wait for defense against the dark arts. Professor Sanford is the greatest teacher."
"And charms," said Kathrine. "Professor Zilsand said we were going to be working on complex mind charms this year."
"Oh dear god," Albert mumbled, head in his hands. "You mean a professor might actually teach you some worthwhile love charms? That is one scary thought."
Kathrine gave him a light shove in his seat. "Is not. I'm not interested enough to bother testing one out on you anyhow."
Victoria shook her head, her hair whispering as the ends brushed along the back of her dress. "We have a new headmaster this year. I wonder who it is. There's all this talk of how the Ministry can't figure it out. Last I heard they were scheduling a vote. How strange is that? In the past it's always been that the heir to one headmaster goes through Hogwarts and then takes up that position."
"Except Professor Johnson was a tired old man who never got married," Albert pointed out.
"Kind of like what you're future is going to be, hm?" Kathrine teased.
"Just because I don't have a love interest is no reason to taunt me. You don't have one either, unless there's something you're not telling me. And neither does Vic."
"I can picture it now," said Victoria. "The three of us when we're all fifty, sitting around and talking about how horrible it was to never get married. But why worry about it now? We're only fifteen. Honestly, it's not that important."
"It is to me," Kathrine piped up. "Why d'you think I'm studying love spells? That way, even if I don't actually fall in love with someone, I can still manage to get a husband."
"That's horrible!" Albert laughed. Kathrine shrugged.
Victoria scraped the remains of her ice cream, which was now all melted, out of her bowl and stood up. She picked up her bowl and spoon, and Albert's as well (he was long finished) and walked them over to the counter, setting them down with a small clinking noise. She turned to move to the window and took a look outside, finding the sun. "It's getting late. The sun is beginning to set," she said. "I'm supposed to be home before then, and you with me," she told Albert. "Aside from that, it looks like it's going to rain soon. The sky is clouding over."
Albert nodded. "We ought to get going."
"But I haven't finished my ice cream yet," Kathrine complained. Victoria looked into Kathrine's bowl, which only had one large bite left in it. She raised an eyebrow pointedly, and Kathrine smiled. All right." She scooped up the remainder of the ice cream with her spoon and slid it into her mouth. She cleared her dishes to the counter as well, picked up her books, and caught up to Victoria and Albert, who were currently exiting through the door, mouth still full of ice cream.
Swallowing to clear her throat, she said, "Well, my mum's waiting for me at the small cafe down the street. I'll see you both in just under a week in carriage number...what number have we decided on this year?"
"Carriage number sixteen," Albert responded. "It doubles every year, remember?"
"Right then. Just get there early so that was get the right one," Kathrine said, and then headed down the street in the opposite direction from Gringotts, waving goodbye as she disappeared into the thinning crowd.
Albert looked up at the sky. "You're right, it is turning out to be very cloudy. And definitely rain clouds. Great way to end the summer."
"I don't know," Victoria said. "I happen to like the rain. It's cool, and clean, and refreshing, and it sounds nice, looks nice, feels nice, and---"
"I get the picture, Vic. We better be getting back, before your parents start to get worried. Your mother doesn't trust me as it is." He began to head towards Gringotts.
