The following day, the holiday break ended. However little pixies dressed as little reindeer, were flying around. They weren't just flying around, they were stealing bites of food or switching food around. Hestia went to add butter to get those but one flying reindeer switched butter with mustard. Hestia wasn't pleased after she bit into the toast, but she was a witch.
Rup however was pleased when the little reindeer from hell, did the same trick to her. She just added butter and jelly to the toast as well after thanking the little reindeer.
Dumbledore thought these little reindeer pixies would increase morale or get people's mind off sordid affairs. Ruperta plus the twins thought it would get people's mind off their consciousness and normalize murder, even by non death eaters. Rup saw twenty people throw the little reindeer across their table. The owls have taken to loudly squabbling with the Little reindeer, who kept stealing the food the owls earned. The pixies tried to lift up the indignant owls by their ears. And thr murderers owls lifted the pixes up by their feet. The viscious cycle didn't end until Dumbeldore and the staff broke up the owl-pixie fight. The ones were sent away with extra food and the pixes were rounded up in a gold ball.
Atleast Dumbeldore decided to switch the pixies with imps by the end of breakfast. By lunch, Dumbeldore replaced imps with gnomes, who also borrowed in the green house, away from access to plants, when they weren't on loftier reindeer duty.
Gnomes weren't tripping anyone or throwing wizard crackers at anyone, which was a scary, unnecessary sueprise during war times. The staff frowned on imps throwing wizard crackers and students and getting them thrown back. That wasn't even in the spirit of the holiday, it was an unnerving noise that was hard to distinguish from corridor duels between two sides of a war.
For the sanity of everyone, the imps were gone when lunch came around. The gnomes were terrirotirial, so it was some sort of protection from any unsavory intruder that might come to the castle. And the castle needed all the protection it could get as the war waged on outside its walls.
Gnomes wasn't the only surprise during lunch. They made good little reindeer, but they didn't fly around unless someone flung them across the table, which they enjoyed. They were monitored by a paid house elf so they wouldn't bite anyone. An exchange student came to be sorted by lunch. Or Dumbledore announced the transfer student from Sanguini's clan. And people were apprehensive and not well informed, even when the new student was 1/4 vampire who only feasted on cuts.
By dinner time, Rup was surprised to see Sterlinge walk into the Great Hall and sit on the stool with a hat. She didn't know it was there when she first arrived. She should've expected it but her mind was on the little reindeer being slid across the table by the twins. The gnomes were grabbing rolls as they slid by. Hestia as complaining about not being able to take a bit without losing it.
Rup's eyes snapped to the stool when Sterlinge sat on it and the hat was placed on his head. Since the hat didn't cover his face it was strange to watch someone sit with a hat on their head, stare ahead. She shrugged a minute late the hat shrieked, "GRYFFINDOR."
Rup nearly fell out of her seat. She could see Sirius and his friends in similar shock. The twins didn't know who he was yet but they scrutinized him as they capped with the rest of the semi thunderous table. Hestia, Mary, Emmeline, Glidory, and the others wee oblivious about who he was.
When Sterlinge sat next to her, she shot him a questioning look. "Later," he told her in a low voice. Ruo hijacked the gnomes for dessert art. The gnomes topped hee dessert with marshmallows and icing for her, for a chunk of it. This worked out, potion wax was a time consuming process. The gnomes were a welcome addition to the Great Hall.
After dinner Rup and Sterlinge walked to the Forbidden Forest, afte distracting Filch by leaving a trail of non disappearing galleons along the third corridor. He was giddy with glee at the opportunity to bust students for an illict scheme, he was sure it was a small pyramid sales scheme. The icing on the cake was Dumbledore would let him keep all this gold one he caught the students.
She made fake gold.l cat toys and kept them in a pile to distract Mrs. Norris too. They were in a trail to another pile thar didn't disappear, when the first pipe disappeared. This kept Mrs. Norris busy too.
Rup and Reg made their way to the tree, with an invisible Kreacher not too far behind them Rup knew it wasn't the best, most scandal avoiding idea to keep going to the tree so long. Even if Kreacher was with them or Regalus every second of the day, to protect Regalus. Rup wouldn't if she had another way to talk business with the real Loed Black.
As they crossed by Hagrid's pumpkin patch, they noticed the sky was clear and it was a crisp, cold night. The stars were twinkling brightly, as the snow glittered around then, comfortably blanketing everything like frosting. Hagrid's hit was silent besides the wind whine of his puppy Fang, that punctured the silence every now and then. Some Forest bowtruckles made click noises in synchronization. Some low sounds also came from. The first.
Eup and Reg starred entering when the same character stopped them. "You made Lil work, the last time by keeping magic print in the ward, I don't care if you're not able to come in the forest. DONT COME IF-"
"SHUT I- ENOUGH" Regalua yelled back.
"Re- Sterrlinge?" Another voice asked.
Regalus turned to the first voice. "SHUT THE HELL UP. Lady Black by Proxy has taken her oayment by looking out for your newborn."
Said pregnant, ungrateful redheaded witch appeared, she was on a two way mirror with Petunia. Sterling glared at Petunia and Petunia's mum, who could see them as clearly as Regalus could see Petunia and Mr. Evans. "Dispire Lady Black by Proxy being generous all throughout your brother/son in-law's barking, that was egged on by Barry wife, Lady Black By proxy looked out for the unborn child without asking anything. Not that you greedy people ever offer anything without an ulterior motive."
He pulled out a sheathed daggar. "So Lady Black by Proxy, refer to her with respect took her rightfully earned payment for her services. I heard your ungreatfuk sister tell your nasty mum her unborn child wasn't happy to be helped Lady Black by Proxy. So do NOT label or get friendly with Lady Black by Proxy," the typical muggle family made an infamy noise. "Your outstanding payment made in accordance with this Agreement Party of her house's guild, has an interest added to it for your failure to reach out to offer us your gift as the payment. Or to even offer to pay, and inquire about business you have no right to inquire about or your taking a thing without permission." Reglaua waves his daggar in the air, "the Knights of Black will look into the debt that your owe Lady Black by Proxy in relation to the price of your stingy gift. In the event your stingy gift doesn't cover the debt, forget the travel reimbursment and the cosr of errand running, you can expect a visit from the Knights of Black."
Firenze stomped out of the fiolage. "Don't block Lady Black By Proxy' way, it's is not lawful to contain anyone in my territory for more than three minutes against their will."
He reared on his hind legs, angrily.
"Thank you," Sterlinge nodded at Firenze. "Who am I? The future Lord Black by Proxy, as far as your concerned. I know for a fact that Lady Black By Proxy has Lord Black's backing, as well as the the knights and guild at her disposal. I suggest you don't try to enquire more than what concerns you, there are binding magical vows preventing anyone privvy from skipping you any detaila. If you ask me a question, I'll demans 20 more." He slung an arm around Rup's arm and led her through Firenze's territory, with measured steps.