Title: Eclectic Taste

Series: Winter Tidings

Author: Jmaria

Rating: PG

Pairing: FfA #747 Joyce/Hagrid (HP)

Joyce Summers was cataloguing the newest shipment of art for the Gallery when the door chime rang. Brushing her hands off on her skirt, she made her way to the counter. The small smile on her lips got even smaller and more O-shaped when she saw who was waiting out front.

There, looking much like the proverbial bull in a china shop, stood an extremely tall and large man. Joyce had never considered herself as an overly short woman. She was taller than her oldest daughter Buffy, and the only man she'd met who was at least close in size to this man was Riley, Buffy's boyfriend. Joyce regained her composure as she smiled at him.

"Good afternoon. Is there anything I can help you find?"

"Oh, erm yes." The large man dug through his numerous pockets, but paused. "Would you be Miss Summers then?"

"Yes, please call me Joyce."

"Professor Dumbledore spoke to ye on the fellytone, I'm Rubeus Hagrid. I'm to collect you know-what"

"Fellytone?" She murmured. What a strange phrasing. "Collect - oh, yes."

Joyce reached for the order slip behind the counter.. The conversation two days earlier seemed as confusing as the one she was having right now.

"He wanted the - funeral mask and the late nineteenth century looking glass?"

"'E told me to give this list to you." Hagrid handed her the slightly bent envelope.

Joyce opened it, and found the money for the objects along with the list of items he'd requested. There was an additional item on there.

"He wants the portrait of Sir Nicholas as well?"

"Aye, he does."

"We haven't even had time to unpack it, much less advertise that we had it." Joyce murmured. "The Professor must have a good contact. We only just acquired it."

"Dumbledore'll pay top galleon for that, he will."

"He has." Joyce smiled, noticing how Rubeus blushed at it. "Let me just box these up for you."

It was sweet, how boyish a grown man twice her size could act at a simple smile. It was rather endearing. Maybe she should ask him out for coffee.