Giddy Brew

Chapter 24: Babes, Ducks, and Jealous Ex but Not Really Ex Girlfriends

A/N: I finally have figured out where this is going. I'm kind of hoping to finish up Giddy Brew by September, but I don't know if that will happen. I tend to get ADD when it comes to writing. It's just I'm excited about the sequel. Yes, the story isn't finished yet, and it has a sequel. I'm optimistic. Originally, the Giddy Brew sequel involved Prue and Casey's daughter (aha…not that I'm ever going to let them get together) Bailey, but she got shifted to another story. Now it's about a group of auror hopefuls and the schematics of auror training. Although there's a completely new group of characters, the core characters will still be around, trying to solve a mystery that involves the end of this story- only they'll be ten to thirteen years older. Sounds fun, right? Haha, except Bailey's mad that she was eliminated. Her and Harper Valente are going to bitch fight in my head.

On with the show.

'…Prue Gelliston (left), an outrageously flirtatious muggle born. Brought up in what sources say are a highly dysfunctional, broken home, it is no surprise that the only skills this girl has lies in breaking hearts, as is reflected by her below poor grades. Says cute, energetic Steffie Devereaux (seen next page), "I don't think she sets out to do it. Boys are her addiction. I think she convinces herself that she's madly in love one day, then the next just loses interest. Not that I'm upset with her, or anything- after all, her loss is my gain. And I don't plan on letting Casey go any time soon." So who is this young harlot gallivanting around with now? Sources say he is a Gryffindor Sixth Year, but out of respect for the dignity of their highly renowned name, we shall leave him anonymous.'

"I can't believe they're still running this drivel! And in Glam, too!" Serendipity slammed down the paper indignantly, "Everybody knows Prue and Bobby were under the imperius by now. And Steffie's been kicked out. How can they still call her cute and energetic."

Prue patted her friend's shoulder comfortingly, "You're just jealous because Steffie made it into Glam."

"I could make it into Glam magazine," Serendipity said shortly.

"Oh?"

"I could."

"Why don't you try then? We could make a bet of it."

Both girls looked up as Elanore took a seat beside them.

Slowly, Prue asked, "Ellie, what are you on about?"

"Look," the black haired girl indicated the opposite page from where Serendipity was pointing. In big, bold letters an advertisement announced 'GLAM MAGAZINE WANTS WHO? MAYBE YOU!'

Aloud, Serendipity read, "Glam prides itself on being the number one trend magazine amongst school age witches not just in Britain, but across the wizarding nations. We have readers in every ministry recognized country, and take care to listen to the demands of our readers. Each year, Glam visits a popular wizarding school and chooses the most glamorous of its female population to be the cover model for our special addition! This year, Glam returns to its roots, visiting the well renowned Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ladies, get ready to strike a pose. Glam wants you!"

When Serendipity finished, her eyes were wide. She took a deep breath, "Merlin! They're coming here! To pick one of us!"

"I take it then that you'll enter the contest?" Elanore raised an eyebrow.

"Of course! What about you, Prue?"

"I'll pass," Prue said dismissively, "I've had enough publicity for a lifetime, thanks."

Serendipity looked aghast, "But, but, it's Glam!"

"I have to agree, it's much better than Witch Weekly," Elanore told the blonde sensibly.

"Not interested," Prue gathered up her books, "But you two will do stupendously. Cheers."

The two girls watched Prue's retreating back. Airily, Elanore said, "I'll bet you a sickle she's off to snog Bobby senseless and a galleon that I'll win the Glam contest."

Serendipity smirked, "I know for a fact she's off to a detention for Professor Snips- she transfigured a first year's quills into ducklings in the fourth floor corridor. And I know I'll win. So, deal."

"So optimistic," Elanore narrowed her eyes, "May the best witch come out on top."

"Please, please, please," Casey pleaded with his friend, "She won't come unless you do."

"Ah, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were trying to say you like my girlfriend better than me," Bobby teased, "In fact, it sounds like you're attempting to sweep her off her feet right under my nose."

"You're the chaser, you do the sweeping," Casey protested, "I'll tell you the same thing I told Prue. I hate weddings. You guys can't let me go alone. If you don't come, she won't come. And I don't care which one of you comes, I just need some platonic support here. They want to put me in a tux, mate!"

"Stop whining. It's my grandpa's birthday. I can't go. But, if you swear to me that you won't try anything with Prue, I'll convince her to go to the wedding," Bobby was enjoying having so much power over Casey. He'd had the redhead on his knees before him, begging for a half hour straight.

"Really?" Casey's eyes lit up, "You're the best mate ever. Seriously. Remind me to buy you the biggest bag of Drooble's ever at Hogsmeade."

"I was thinking more along the lines of you doing my homework till break. And remember, no malarkey?"

"No funny business," Casey confirmed, already delighted by the prospect of having Prue to himself for four whole days during the Easter hols. Too bad that was a few months away still.

He thought back to when Prue had approached him in the library a few days ago. Secretly, Casey thought she might have made the whole scenario up in her head as her subconscious's way of telling her to drop Bobby. He knew it was wishful thinking on his part. Maybe all this talk about the forest hags was making her paranoid? Casey wondered if he should broach the subject with Bobby, perhaps get him to tone it down. Then he realized Bobby hadn't spoke much about them since early January. Maybe the situation with Steffie was what had made Prue so jumpy. Casey couldn't help but be worried.

Rather than voice his concerns, he asked hesitantly, "Hey Stone? What are you going to do with Prue for Valentine's day?"

When he first asked Prue out, he'd been looking forward to so many things. He'd had big, extravagant trips filled with romance all planned out for her birthday, then Valentine's day, then every other holiday he could think of that deserved celebrating. Heck, he'd even thought of something entertaining, if not romantic to do for Bonfire day. It was sort of disappointing that he hadn't gotten to do any of them.

"Ah? Is that soon?" Bobby frowned, "Please, please tell me it's not. I've been so caught up with classes that I didn't even think…"

"It's this weekend," Casey replied dryly.

"Bloody…" Bobby shook his head, turning slightly pale, "Two days from now?"

"I can't believe you forgot," Casey drawled, knowing full well that he was in no position to gloat. He didn't even have anyone to spend Valentine's with. Actually, there was an idea. Half the girls at Hogwarts would be dateless, heading out to Hogsmeade with a woe is me attitude. What if he were to ask one to spend that special day with him? After all, it would prove to Bobby that he had given up on Prue, and it would prove to Prue that he only wanted to be her friend. Plus it might make her a little jealous.

"Bobby, I'm a genius!" Casey burst, just as his friend was about to plead innocence.

"Are you completely nutters?" the blonde questioned, "Your grades certainly don't seem to agree."

Casey frowned, "I'm trying to help you here."

"What is it then?"

"Why don't we go on a double date for Valentines?"

"Ah, you and me?"

"No, you daft git. You and Prue, me and…well, don't worry about that part. That way, you don't have to worry about planning anything for Prue. I'll take care of all the details."

"We could go to the Dark Symphony concert," suggested Bobby.

"Absolutely not. Elanore and all them are going, the traitors. We do not need to add to their fan base," Casey growled, "Bloody prats, all of them."

"A little jealous," Bobby questioned meekly.

"No. But look at it this way, it'll take care of all your problems, minus getting her flowers and all that jazz," Casey beamed at his friend.

"Sounds…solid, I guess," Bobby shrugged, uncertain whether to agree.

"You guess? It sounds genius, Stone. It's the best you're going to come up with in two days."

"PRUDENCE!" Serendipity flounced on to her best friend's bed with a yell. Covered only in a towel, Prue heard her friend's scream and ran up the stairs as fast as she could.

"What, what, who died?" Prue gasped in the door way, her towel sliding down and showing more than it should.

"I need to pick out battle panties," Serendipity said bluntly.

Seprie, who was reading the latest issue of Witch Weekly on her bed, raised an eyebrow.

"Excuse me? You screamed bloody murder for that?" Prue sighed, "What exactly are battle panties, anyway?"

"For good luck," Serendipity explained, "I need it for the Glam Magazine contest."

"You need panties for good luck?"

"Yes," Serendipity scowled, "Stupid, stupid Elanore is going to be competing against me for the cover model position, along with half the school. She looks like a freaking china doll compared to me."

"Sere," Prue groaned, "I'm not going to go along with your pity rant. Your chest is twice the size of mine and Elanore's combined, and you've got great hair."

"Not to mention your complexion," Seprie piped in, "I would kill to have such clear skin."

"Did she just say something nice?" Prue wondered aloud.

Serendipity looked surprised, but chose to say, "Shut up and help me pick out my underwear."

"That is so gay," Prue moaned.

"We're girls. The correct phrase is lesbianic," Seprie said interestedly pouring over Serendipity's pile of panties on the bed, "These are cute."

Prue watched as Seprie pointed to a lacy number with pink trim and plastic flowers.

"They look uncomfortable," Prue finally said, "Definitely not fit for fighting. You need to wear something versatile, but full of sex appeal. I can't believe I'm doing this."

"Stripes?" Serendipity inquired.

"Absolutely not. What are you, five?" Prue frowned.

"I think they're adorable," Seprie squealed, examining the orange and yellow striped pair Serendipity was dangling off her pinky.

Prue caught sight of a pair of black lace panties near Serendipity's pillow. They were decorated with gold stitching and absolutely see through. Perfect. Seriously, Prue pointed them out, "There's your battle panties."

"Where did you get them?" Seprie didn't seem to share Prue's enthusiasm for the number. In fact, she seemed rather disgusted.

Serendipity blushed, "Elanore got them from her neighbor's fetish shop. They were a gag gift."

"Well, the joke's on her, because these will be your good luck," Prue said with an air of finality.

"No! I can't…I mean…they're so…"

"Slutty?" suggested Seprie.

"Sexy?" Prue retorted.

"Scandalous?"

"Sultry?"

"Smutty?"

"Seductive?"

"Lewd?"

"Beguiling?"

"Indecent?"

Prue scowled at the brunette, "Ideal?"

"Fine. I get it. I'll wear them," Serendipity was the color of a tomato by now, but she figured it would all be worth it if she kicked Elanore's butt. And it was kind of ironic that the small girl had given her the underwear.

"By the way, I thought the contest was on Valentine 's Day," Prue murmured.

"It is," Serendipity looked up in surprise.

"Isn't the Dark Symphony concert on Valentine's Day?"

"Yup, I'm so excited," gushed Seprie before Serendipity could open her mouth.

"I wasn't asking you, but okay. Didn't Rufus ask Elanore to go to the concert?"

"If she goes to the concert, how is she going to go to the contest?" Serendipity gasped, "Don't tell me I picked out battle panties for nothing."

"Our Ellie will find away. She's smart," Prue nodded thoughtfully.

"We could stop her from going," Serendipity said, with a peculiar gleam in her eye.

"That would be cruel," Prue replied.

"Yeah, it would be really mean."

"You wanna do it?"

Serendipity laughed, "I was joking. We can't do that to her."

Slightly crestfallen, Prue muttered, "I knew that."

"Are you sure you're really all friends?" Seprie asked suspiciously.

"Why would you ask that?" Serendipity seemed hurt.

"She's one fry short of a happy meal," Prue said sagely.

Quant Phantom didn't care much about evil hags or secret passages. Correction, he didn't care about secret passages except when they came in useful. The passage in the Ravenclaw common room was cold and dark, but luckily, his girlfriend didn't mind. Perks of dating someone who spent must of their time doing Herbology projects.

"Mm," Fortune mumbled into his mouth as he pinned her against the dark, slimy wall of the passageway.

Quant dug his heels into he muddied floor as he lifted the slight girl off the ground.

"Hey, hey," she protested, "Wouldn't this be easier if we went into the forest?"

So Quant lead Fortune through the passage and out into the cool night. Immediately, she pounced on him, pushing him down into the soft dirt. As Quant's head touched the ground, his eyes snapped open and he saw a man looming over them.

"Excuse me," the man asked politely, his soft dark hair catching the moonlight.

Fortune jumped up, startled, trying to smooth out her mousy brown hair. Irritated, Quant clambered up as well, and asked coolly, "Can we help you?"

"My name is Puck," the man said cheerfully, "I was just wondering, is that Hogwarts?"

He pointed towards the castle, amber eyes flashing. Fortune nodded eagerly, "Yes. We go to school there. I'm Fortune, and this is Quant."

Quant nudged her hard in the ribs, but she ignored him, gritting her teeth. She chirped, "Are you heading to Hogwarts? Because technically, we're not supposed to be out here, and it would be super if you wouldn't mention us to the head master."

Kindly, Puck said, "Do not fear. I'm actually going in there. Just trying to find direction."

"Into the forest? Are you mad?" Quant demanded, "It's dangerous in there."

"Not for me," Puck said solemnly, "The master of the forest protects me."

"The…master?" Fortune asked, confused.

"Gradaver Moerte. Have you not heard of him?"

"Can't say that we have," Quant was getting a bad feeling about this guy, "Where does this master of the forest live?"

"He dwells with the twisted sisters," Puck nodded wisely, "The haters of mudbloods and muggles alike."

Fortune shivered, "That's…"

"You mean the deserted shack in the middle of the forest? It's all covered in cobwebs," Quant recalled stumbling onto the shack with Bobby and Frank right before Christmas break. The shack had been empty.

"You don't have the eye to see them," Puck muttered, seemingly startled. Without any word of goodbye, he marched into the forest, disappearing for good.

"It was so weird," Quant told them once they'd all gathered in the library.

"Sounds like," Bobby agreed, "And he said people lived in the shack in the woods?"

"Yes. But I headed out there this afternoon-"

"Alone?" gasped Elanore.

"Yes alone," Quant said pompously, "I can take care of myself."

"There was nothing there?"

"Nothing," Quant affirmed, "But this guy, Puck said something about us not having the eyes to see."

"That doesn't make any sense," Casey scowled, "Why didn't you tell him to stop talking nonsense."

"Well he just went away," Quant sighed, "Didn't even say goodbye."

"Was he cute?" Prue demanded.

"How does that matter?" Casey shot back, wearing a scowl matched only by Bobby.

"How would I know?" Quant asked.

"Fine. Be that way," Prue stuck her tongue out at all of them.

Serendipity placed a comforting arm around her friend, "I'm sure he was very cute."

Serendipity and Elanore were steadfastly not looking at each other. Both were hyped for the competition the following day, Elanore even more so for the concert in Hogsmeade.

The excitement was heightened by their surroundings. The Glam competition was actually meant to be held in the library. Black clad workers were pushing back the stacks, much to Madame Pince's dismay, Long swaths of metallic pink, glittery green, and plush purple velvets were draped over the old, dusty books. Several girls who had probably never even been in the library before were pressed up against the walls, giggling over everything that moved.

When the group finally broke up, Bobby stopped Prue and Casey, "Prue, if it's alright with you, Casey and I went ahead and made plans for Valentine's day."

"Together? Just the two of you?"

"No! Why does everybody think that?" Casey asked, looking accusingly at Bobby and Prue.

Bobby explained, "No, you and I, and Casey and…?"

"Oriole," Casey muttered indignantly, "I asked Oriole Toole."

"That pretty Hufflepuff? Nice going, Casey," Prue exclaimed, "But isn't a double date a bit cliché?"

Bobby looked worried, "You think so?"

"No. Not at all," Prue covered quickly, then squealed, "Ooh, can we go to Madame Puddifoots? I've always wanted to go there, but it seems a bit girly…uh, but Oriole will love it. I bet."

Ignoring her meek voice, Casey cut in smoothly, "Anything for the ladies."

"Mate, isn't that the place covered in pink confetti?"

"You'll suffer through it," Casey murmured, "Prue wants to go. Girls love it there."

"So it's a date then," Bobby cheered.

"Hello girls! Welcome to the Glam Magazine Cover Girl Contest!" a leggy, bouncy brunette announced.

Polaris shifted uncomfortably, "Her skirt doesn't cover much, does it?"

"She didn't buy that at Glad Rags," Serendipity agreed, but the throngs of girls surrounding her didn't seem to mind the scantily clad rep for Glam.

"The contest will consist of three parts. Beauty, intelligence, and a special charms competition."

Half the crowd groaned. The other half cheered wildly. Serendipity could just imagine the look on Madame Pince's face.

"We'll start with intelligence," the girl smiled sinisterly. She must have known half of Hogwarts had the IQ of a mandrake, "Divide by house and year, and our lovely Quiz Witches will give you a short examination."

Serendipity bid Polaris a reluctant farewell, and lined up behind Seprie, Antoinetta, and Elanore. The Quiz Witch was a smiling, bubbly blonde who delivered them a foot of survey questions to judge their intelligence, their quick wit, and their ability to cope with the most completely random questions any had ever seen. Something came of it, though, because half the crowd was eliminated. Unfortunately for Serendipity, Elanore remained. She was one of the smartest girls in school, of course she wasn't eliminated.

The charms contest followed. It was mostly silly stuff, like making bubbles burst from their wands and creating flowers out of random library books. By the time the most important contest, the beauty contest rolled around, there were only twelve girls remaining. Elanore, Serendipity, Dana, Antoinetta, little Tisiphone Grant, Deianeira Britton, Garnet Sanford, Zoey Masters, and seventh years Patricia Connery, Alija Fairmay, Caroline Durret, and Gislaine Ranfree.

Elanore, in the first words she'd spoken to Serendipity for two weeks mumbled, "We're never going to win. How did Zoey and Gislaine make it past the intelligence test anyway? They're both morons."

Dana whispered, "Wait, isn't Zoey that girl who kept screaming 'whore' at the Halloween show? She's part of Maniac Charm with Tisiphone Grant's big sister."

Serendipity shrugged, refusing to answer. She wasn't quite sure how she was going to beat any of the gorgeous seventh years, or pretty Deianeira, for that matter. Somehow their luck held up, however. They had to walk down a makeshift runway for the judges, toss their hair and smile pretty. It was unfortunate, but Gislaine went first, wearing super high heels and a short summery dress. She fell flat on her face. Deianeira was all smiles until she accidentally tripped off the stage. Caroline burst into tears and ran off the runway because she was sure the judges were being to harsh on her 'fat' thighs. Alija passed out backstage, and Patricia lost a contact lens and outright refused to walk. Only the sixth years were left to compete.

A string of bad luck was occurring in the runway competition. Not that Serendipity was complaining, but it was a bit odd. It started to make sense when Antoinetta cornered Elanore and her before their turns and tried to jinx them. Elanore and Serendipity hexed her into kingdom come.

"You know, pummeling her to death with water while I was trying to burn her precious hair off probably wasn't the best of ideas," Serendipity told her friend dryly.

"Kind of counterproductive," Elanore agreed.

Antoinetta didn't compete due to her slightly singed 'do. She'd already jinxed Garnet into tap dancing down the stage and Tisiphone into going cross eyed the entire way. Serendipity, Elanore, Dana, and Zoey all completed their walks perfectly.

The bouncy brunette announcer walked onto stage. The audience held their breath.

Prue and Bobby met Casey and pretty, mocha skinned Oriole outside Madame Puddifoot's tea parlor near noon. Prue winced at the sight of the girl's perfect smile.

"Hi Prue, hi Bobby," Oriole smiled sweetly, "Sorry we're late. Casey wanted to run by the Dark Symphony concert."

"Aren't they still setting up?" Prue inquired.

"Yes," Casey said grumpily, "Stupid gits. Cerulean's there making fun of them."

"What a way to spend Valentine's," Bobby shook his head.

"Actually, he has a hot date tonight. He looked like he was waiting for someone there, maybe he's meeting her?" Casey suggested.

"Nice pants, by the way," Prue admired Casey's plaid, punk rock style pants, coupled with a black jacket and gray t-shirt. Again, the sight of Oriole made her seethe. She adored Bobby, but with Casey standing there looking so good…she was acting like a typical jealous ex. Prue determined that she was going to spend the rest of the day trying to be nice.

"Are you making fun of me?"

Bobby lead them into Madame Puddifoot's, and despite the fact that she had suggested it, Prue gave a visible shudder as she walked through the door.

"This is where you wanted to go?" Bobby whispered incredulously.

"So sue me," she shot back, eyeing the golden statuettes with disgruntled expressions throwing tiny, sparkling bits of confetti.

They sat down to order from a kindly old woman with a crooked smile.

"I'll take an iced hot chocolate, please," Oriole smiled, "and Turkish delight?"

"Sure thing honey. What about you, blondie?"

Blondie? How come Oriole got 'honey' and Prue got 'blondie'. Slightly insulted, Prue said, "Can I get an iced hot chocolate also, and petite fours."

"Hey, you think I'm rich or something?" Bobby joked.

Prue elbowed him lightly.

The boys both ordered brownies and butterbeer, and when Madame Puddifoot said in an incensed manner that she didn't sell such things, they got pumkin juice.

"So," Oriole squeaked, "Who do you think is going to win the Glam competition?"

Casey rolled his eyes, "Who cares?"

"Rather snarky, aren't we?" Prue asked, "Anyway, hopefully Sere or Ellie will win."

"I was hoping for Deianeira," Oriole took a sip of her chilled chocolate.

There was quiet until their desserts arrived. Bobby tried to make small talk, asking Oriole about her family and how she liked classes.

"Well, I'm fond of potions, although I'm truly good at charms," she bit her lip, "I'd really like to play Quidditch, y'know. I'm a bad flier."

"You like Quidditch?" Bobby, Prue, and Oriole launched into a half hour examination of their favorite Quidditch teams while Casey silently sipped his coffee. He was growing increasingly irritated.

"Can we change the subject?"

"Ah, sure Casey," Bobby frowned, but said nothing.

Prue immediately jumped on the chance to talk about boys, "Hey, Oriole, any ex boyfriends we should know about?"

Oriole's mocha complexion reddened, "I just broke it off with Krit Renfro. Didn't Casey tell you all?"

Angrily, Casey interjected, "No, I didn't."

Oriole didn't seem to get the hint that Casey would have her leave the subject alone, "Krit asked me out, and we've been dating for two weeks. But Casey's so popular, and well, he was very persuasive."

She tried to place her hand over Casey's, but he quickly withdrew his and said roughly, "Krit's popular too."

"Not like you," Oriole cooed.

Abruptly, Casey pushed back his chair and stood up, "I need a smoke."

Bobby, Prue, and Oriole watched his retreating back. Prue spent all of two seconds admiring his plaid covered ass, then stood up hastily, "Excuse me."

Standing at the door, Prue watched Casey bum a cigarette off a loner she vaguely recognized as sixth year Slytherin Fraust Kaufman. He stretched out, then plopped down cross legged on the dirt covered path, leaning against the cool cobbled wall.

"What in the seven hells do you think you're doing out there?" Prue demanded shrilly.

"I fucking…I fucking don't know, okay? I just don't fucking know?"

In the past year, Casey's language had gotten more obscene than usual. Still, in the face of so many 'fuck's, Prue blinked. He looked confused. He was acting upset. Course of action…?

"Are you okay?"

Casey's shoulders slumped forward, and Prue sank to her knees in front of him. She placed her arms around his shoulders, feeling too small next to his broad form.

"I'm getting pretty bi polar, hunh?"

Prue returned his half smile, "Yeah. Just a little."

"It's…Valentine's Day, y'know? I guess I just wish," he paused, a wistful expression on his face, "I wish I was spending it with someone special."

Prue immediately felt guilty about thinking bad, envious thoughts about Oriole. Of course Casey would have a date for Valentine's Day, but that didn't mean she meant anything to him. His eyes rose to meet hers, "I wish."

"Hey," Prue said sharply, "What about me?"

Casey's eyebrows shot up, "Excuse me?"

Prue blushed, "And Bobby! And I suppose Oriole…we're all special, right?"

"You are," Casey ventured bravely, "The other two the jury's still out on."

"Mmm," Prue gave him a reproving look.

Casey mumbled, "I was a real jerk to Oriole, wasn't I?"

"Yeah," Prue agreed.

"You're going to make me march in there and apologize to her, aren't you?"

"Probably, when I get over the embarrassment of my newly muddy knees," Prue indicated the rich dirt her stockings had sunk into.

"Okay, mum," Casey mocked.

Prue leaned into him, wrapping her arms tighter around his shoulders, then promptly slapped him hard in the back of the head.

"Ow," he whined.

"Let's go back inside, you great prat. It's cold out here," she shivered.

Casey realized he'd been sitting in the chill air, snug as a bug in his pants and jacket ensemble while she was freezing her butt off in a pleated skirt, stockings, and short sleeved footie jersey.

"Here," he scrambled to get out of his coat and put it around her shoulders.

Gratefully, Prue shrugged on the black jacket and shoved her hands in the pockets, "Thanks."

"Better now? Could we stay out for just a few minutes more?"

"Mm, sure. Hey, what are these?" She pulled out two tiny boxes wrapped in plain brown paper.

"Ah, Valentine's presents," Casey's face lit up, "Open yours."

"I'm not your girlfriend. You're not supposed to get me a present!"

"Don't worry, it's kind of recycled," Casey admitted.

Inside the box was the key he'd given her for Christmas and she'd given it right back to him during the whole Steffie ordeal.

"I still don't know what this is for," she told him wryly.

"It's a surprise," he beamed, "You can't know until the time is right."

"Oh. Can I try a cigarette?"

"What?"

"I've always wanted to when you play with them at Hogwarts, but you know, muggle things don't work, and I didn't want to look as stupid as you," she teased.

"Hey!"

He gave her a cigarette and lit it for her, With a smile, he instructed, "You inhale."

Prue did as she was told, then coughed, "This is awful!"

Casey winced, "I guess they are."

"You know they can kill you?"

"I know."

When they went back into the store, Casey apologized to Oriole, and Bobby asked Prue why she smelled like smoke. For presents, Bobby and Casey had bought Prue and Oriole charm bracelets with only one charm; a witch's hat. Both girls weren't sure if they liked matching, but they figured they could diversify the gifts by buying different charms for it. They spent a great day in Hogsmeade doing just that. By the end of the night, Prue had bought herself three different charms; a star, a moon, and a tiny key that Casey had suggested.

"Well," the leggy announcer stumbled, "It seems the judges aren't satisfied yet! We have a four-way tie between Miss Masters, Miss Kingston, Miss Watson, and Miss Wingate!"

"Really?" Dana gasped excitedly.

"Whores," Zoey muttered.

"I do hope they hurry, I have to be at the concert soon," Elanore said tightly.

Serendipity smiled, "I think this is all going swimmingly."

"I suppose we're going to have a tie breaker. I'll be asking the contestants why exactly they deserve to be the Glam Magazine Cover Witch!"

Zoey was up first. The bouncy brunette cleared her throat, "Miss Masters, what traits and skills make you particularly suited to Glam?"

Tall, striking Zoey had foregone the real fairy gold barrettes she had sported at the Halloween concert, but her hair was now a brilliant shade of blue. She started out perfectly lovely, "Well, I'm a good student, I'm part of a popular in school band called Maniac Charm, which I hope to advertise through Glam. Maybe one day we'll be as popular as Dark Symphony or the Black Orbit."

"Wonderful! Anything else?"

"Yes," Zoey took a deep breath, "I'm very fond of the word whore."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me, whore. Whore, whore, whore. I think it's the best word ever!"

"Um, thank you, I think," the announce looked very flustered. In fact, most of the crowd had fallen silent, "Miss Wingate, your turn. Why are you best suited for Glam?"

"I'm smart and I'm funny, according to my boyfriend. I'm, uh, kind of nervous, sorry," Dana giggled, "I, uh, I've won a lot of beauty pageants in the muggle world, and well, I love Glam! I'd be ecstatic to win."

"Fabulous," the girl drawled, "Miss Kingston?"

"Well, I certainly am intelligent. I have top grades in the school, and I'd like to represent the faction of smart girls that Glam so often skips over for the…ah, big breated ones," Elanore finished with a pretty smile.

"And Miss Watson, what makes you Glam's ideal Cover Witch? Miss Watson?"

Serendipity hesitated. Everyone was staring at her, She opened her mouth, then closed it, Finally she said, "I'm the keeper for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, I'm smart, I…I, well, my boyfriend thinks I can sing, and he's the pianist for Dark Symphony, so I guess it's true."

"Okay. Give the judges a minute to deliberate, and wait- we have a decision," the announcer peeled open the envelope, "Well, I never! This is a first in the history of our competition, but it seems we have a brains, beauty, and brawn decision. Glam will have not one, but three Cover Witches! Kingston, Wingate, and Watson!"

"Why do I never get to be the beauty?" Elanore wondered grumpily. Serendipity figured she'd gotten to be the beauty last time, so she was okay with being the brawn until the next time Prue was around. Unfortunately, the shoot cut into the concert, and Elanore never made it to see Dark Symphony. Joshua and Perseus came by to watch her, and she caught Rufus's eye as he left. He winked and mouthed, 'good work, kid'.

Serendipity and Elanore made up in the changing room. They realized competition was silly, and that if it had been a fair fight, each would have kicked the other's arse. They had fun picking out outfits, and Serendipity got to show the other two girls her battle panties with pride. Dana chose a red dress with frills at the bottom. Serendipity got to wear a sky blue sheath. Elanore wore an evening gown of midnight black. Then they changed again. They were shot as wood nymphs, as school girls, as rock stars, and in the hottest witch wear. At the end of the day, the three girls collapsed laughing. It hadn't been such a bad Valentine's after all.

Not my best. It comes off as rather stunted.

Review please! Only six chapters left! By the way, those of you who are following the plot; it's very straightforward in Giddy Brew. The real story behind the plot will take place in the Giddy Brew sequel, coming as soon as chapter 30 hits the stands, so to speak. There's also Wicked, a collection of drabbles taking place immediately after Giddy Brew ends- two of which are already out; but they ruin the ending if you don't already know it.