Sugar Plums & Sweet Things (Anna)

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina had had a full day of shopping in the ever crowded Diagon Alley and was tired of being bumped and smacked into by strangers too busy to even apologize for making her bags drop several times.  She didn't remember the last time it had been this crowded in Diagon; had everyone decided that today was the day to get their school supplies?  It sure seemed like it.  She looked around her surroundings and spotted the sign signifying the entrance to Horizon Alley.  That particular alley way was rather new, so there was no way it would be as crowded.  So Irina made her way through the crowds and into Horizon Alley, which had some people mulling about, but not nearly as many as Diagon did.  Blissfully swinging her bags by her side, Rina made her way down the alley at her own leisurely pace, taking a look at the shops as she passed.  She almost went into the Fountain of Fair Fortune Pub, but wasn't sure if she'd be allowed to stay, so she carried on.  

Finally, she stopped in front of Sugar Plums' Sweet Shop.  She hadn't had any sweets in ages; her mother banned them from the house after her little sister got sick from eating about twelve chocolate frogs in one sitting when she was eight.  Knowing she wouldn't be able to get a ton, she bustled into the shop and straight into a familiar red-haired friend.  "Anna!  Fancy running into you here - literally," she said, laughing as she steadied herself.



@annelise

[Deleted]

Anna was trying out Horizon Alley. So many people were in Diagon Alley today and she just wasn't in the mood to be jostled about, so she decided to investigate the new street. As she was doing so, she saw a sweets shop and smiled to herself. What better thing to do when alone than try out a sweet shop? She went in, looking around at all the available candies. The real question now was: what did she want?

She backed away from an aisle, turning to look down another that was near the door when someone walked into her. She turned to see who it was and couldn't stop a grin from covering her face. "Rina! Yeah, fancy that," she said, laughing. Who would've thought that she'd run into a good friend here?

"You craving something sweet too?" she asked with a grin. "I thought I'd just try this place out. You know, see if they have anything good." She shrugged as she started looking at the shelves again. She shuddered when she saw a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. Ugh. She hated those. She'd gotten a particularly nasty flavor as a child and couldn't stand them since. 

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Rina gave her friend a warm smile. "Something sweet and a bit of peace and quiet really. I don't remember the last time I've seen Diagon Alley so crowded!" she exclaimed with a laugh.  She moved her bags to her other hand and was suddenly struck with an idea.  "I keep forgetting that, at seventeen, we can use magic outside of school," she said, pulling out her wand.  "Reducio," she murmured, and the bags shrunk down to a pocket-size that she could fit in her purse.  

Her hands free, Irina was now able to look around.  "Not a fan of Bertie Botts eh?" she asked her friend as she saw her make a face.  She neither liked nor disliked the candy, but today was definitely a day for chocolate.  She glided over to the section and pondered her choices.  "So how is your summer going so far?  Anything interesting happen?" she asked as she searched.

@annelise

[Deleted]

Anna smiled back at Irina, "Yeah, that's why I came over here too. I love Diagon Alley, but sometimes ... peace and quiet is better, no matter where it is." She laughed when Irina seemed to jerk her wand out, saying she forgot she could use her want outside of school. "Yeah, that is the benefit of being older," Anna agreed. She loved using magic outside of school. Absolutely and completely. 

She followed Rina over to the chocolate. This was much better. "No, I can't stand them," she answered off-handedly as she started looking at the chocolates. "My summer is ... pretty slow. I mean, I've seen some friends, but I don't have much to report. Nothing really big has happened. What about you? With your big trip and everything?" she asked. Anna knew that Irina and Lily went on a trip and she hadn't heard about it yet. Interestingly enough, she hadn't seen her cousin recently. Hmm, she would have to do something about that.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina brightened when Anna asked about her summer excursion with Lily.  "It was a lot of fun!  Didn't find Camelot unfortunately, but we did find traces of magic in some Muggle tourist traps that would really make the experience quite different if they knew," she said with a laugh.  She definitely had formed a better friendship bond with Lily that summer; though she was a bit envious of her having Ginny Weasley for a mother.  Sometimes she did wonder what would have happened if her father had gotten his way and married Hermione Granger instead of her mother.  Would she even exist?  Rose certainly wouldn't have, and privately Irina would have been fine with that.

"I can't believe we're going into seventh year - after this we're all done!  It's mad isn't it?" she exclaimed.  The boxes of Peppermint toads then caught her eye and her stomach grumbled.  "I don't know why but I love these," she told her friend, grabbing a few boxes.  It never hurt to carry extra around anyway.

@annelise

[Deleted]

Anna couldn't help but smile when Irina got so enthusiastic about her trip. "Well that sounds like a blast! I'm just glad you guys made it out in one piece. I know Lily can go a bit overboard," she said with a smile. Anna and Lily were very close, so she'd wondered how the trip would go. At least they had a good time.

Anna glared at the chocolate in front of her. She couldn't make up her mind! "At least you know what you want," she grumbled good-naturedly. "I'm just gonna have to get a bit of it all!" Anna decided with a grin. "And I'll take a page out of your book and shrink them down once we get out of here so no one will know how much I bought." She grabbed an armful of all different kinds of chocolate and headed to the front of the store. "Where do you want to go next?" she asked Irina curiously. 

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina chuckled at Molly's description of Lily.  "Most definitely, but this time I was just as enthusiastic; possibly even more," she said with a smile.  "Plus since her mum was there she couldn't really use magic outside of school, so I was the one performing most of the spells.  I do have to say though, Wales is beautiful during the summer," she told her, thinking fondly of the rolling green hills.  It was a lot warmer in Wales than it had been Thirsk for the first part of the summer, and she had been less than thrilled to go back to Northern England after their expedition was over.  Thankfully, she'd be heading off to Bulgaria next week for the week with her sisters and, if she ever got back to her, Mori.  "I'm heading to Bulgaria next week, so thankfully it looks like more adventures are in store!"

The two girls paid for their purchases and stepped out of Sugarplums' Sweet Shop.  The day was still quite beautiful, and Rina looked up and down the alley way, trying to see where she'd like to go next.  "What about The Fountain of Fair Fortune?  I know it's supposed to be a pub, but I've been there with my brother before and they have a lovely outdoor patio and surprisingly good pub food," she suggested.  Her usual go to for food was the Leaky Cauldron, but since they'd have to fight through the crowd to get back there, she didn't mind stopping somewhere newish for food.


@annelise

[Deleted]

Anna scrunched her nose as she listened to Irina's description of things. "Aw, you're making me jealous," she teased. "That does sound like a bunch of fun and I'll bet it was beautiful." Anna laughed when Irina said she was going again in a week. "Really?! Oh now I really am jealous. You're going to have to tell me all about it once we get back to school." 

She followed Irina outside and nodded at her suggestion. "I'm game for that." Anna said, in a mood for adventure. It seemed like today was the day to do it, so she and Irina walked down the street and into the shop. "I vote we eat outside," Anna suggested. "Is that all right with you?" 

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yes, it's too beautiful to sit indoors," she agreed.  They snagged one of the last two seater tables at the pub and were immediately brought two menus. "I'm feeling a bit peckish today, would you think less of me if I got both an appetizer and a meal?" she asked Anna.  She already knew her friend wouldn't judge her, but wanted her to know that if she wanted to order more food, Rina certainly wouldn't be judging her for it.  "I think we need to go up there to put in our orders," she said.  Excusing herself, she went up and asked for two waters to be sent to the table, and ordered herself a pint of mulled mead and a Scotch Egg to start.  She sat back down at the table and passed Anna a water.  "Your turn!" she said with a grin.



@annelise

[Deleted]

Anna laughed, "Like I could think less of you. You've seen me peckish plenty of times at Hogwarts. Besides, I'm pretty hungry myself." Anna looked at the menu, trying to decide what she was in the mood for. Breakfast? She knew it was late, but in her book, it was never too late for breakfast food. Rina got up and ordered, but Anna wasn't ready yet. "Yeah, yeah I know," she stood up once Irina got back and went to the counter, ordering herself an Omlette and a fruit bowl. Leaving the menu on the counter, she went back and sat down at the table, reaching for her glass and taking a drink of water.

"So are you getting ready for school before your trip, or will you be taking care of that when you get back?" Anne asked curiously, taking continuous sips of her drink. How did she not realize she was this thirsty before?

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

“Oh yes, I actually just came from Flourish and Blotts with my new school books for this year. I can't believe that was my last time entering the bookshop as a student getting her supplies – we're seventh years now, and graduating next May!” Irina exclaimed as her friend sipped at her water. She took a gulp herself as the first of her orders came out. She gave a quick look of assurance from Anna before tucking into the food. She had been bustling about all day and had forgotten to eat; no wonder she was so hungry. 

After sitting in a comfortable silence aside from swallowing, Rina cleared her throat with another sip of water. “Have you been hearing the rumors that something big will be happening at school this year? A planned something, so hopefully a good something,” she asked her. Last year had seen three murders of Muggleborn students, including one in Rina's year. She hadn't known Ethan all that well, but he had been very nice and she had felt sad when he had been killed, and horrified by the manner. The last thing the school needed was another surprise attack.

@annelise

[Deleted]

Anna crinkled her nose as Irina's realization washed over her. Sure, she knew it was her last year, but she hadn't really thought of it like that yet. It was weird, but not in a bad way. "I'm so excited!" she exclaimed to her friend. "I can't believe we've already gone through six years. It's gone by so fast."

Anna nodded when Irina's food came out first. There was no need for her friend to wait to start eating. Only moments later, Anna's food was brought out and she started eating too. For some reason, she was ravenous. And this food was delicious. "I've heard rumors, but my Dad won't tell me anything about it. I'm sure he knows what's going on though," she grumbled. Her dad took his work very seriously. "I bet it'll be something fun. I mean, they asked us to bring dress robes. So ... some kind of a dance or something? I don't know, that's what I'm thinking. Do you have any guesses?" she asked curiously. Maybe Rina would know more.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina nodded as they ate their lunch; she knew Anna's dad was high up in the Ministry and was a bit of a stickler for the rules.  "My parents have been discussing whatever it is at length but they won't confirm anything.  But putting two and two together, a big event plus a ball, my mind immediately goes to Triwizard Tournament," she said after swallowing her bite.  She took a sip of water and sighed.  "My father told me all about his time as Durmstrang Champion, he had to face a dragon, rescue a girl from the depths of the Black Lake, and get through a maze," she added, ticking off his tasks.  She felt that she could probably handle the dragon and the maze, but she hated deep water.  Perhaps this was the year she'd have to learn to get over that fear.

Shuddering involuntarily, Rina turned her attention back to her friend.  "He got Imperiused during the maze though; the whole fallout from his tournament was why they didn't have it for a bit."  She paused, and took another sip of water.  "Do you think you would enter?" she asked her friend.  Rina already knew her answer; she'd enter for a chance to be known as something other than Viktor Krum's daughter.

@annelise

[Deleted]

Anna's eyes widened as her friend mentioned the Triwizard Tournament. She hadn't even thought of that! Also, it seemed to fit in exactly with everything she'd heard. She thought about it for a moment and nodded, "I think you're right Rina. I can't believe I didn't think of that too!" Anna remembered all she'd heard about it. Her father had been somewhat closely involved in the planning and implementation of the event, working for Mr. Barty Crouch at the time. He enjoyed telling stories of how her Uncle had passed all the challenges. "Yeah, my father has told me all about that too. It sounds like it was really hard," she commented. Not that that would stop her. Anna loved challenges and adventure. Add in the fact that she was a seventh year, and she felt like she'd probably be able to enter. After all, seventh is the last year at Hogwarts. If anyone could do it ...

Anna stared at Irina for a moment, "I never heard about that part of it," she responded in a whisper. She shuddered at the thought of someone using the Imperius Curse on her. "But that wasn't supposed to happen, right?" Anna had to ask, just to make sure. Even though she was almost certain. 

At Irina's last question, Anna smiled. "Yeah, I definitely would. I mean, it sounds exciting and I'd like to do my best at it. Still, even if I were to enter, the chances of being chosen are pretty minimal, aren't they?" She was more thinking out loud than asking, but it came out anyway. "What about you? Would you enter?"

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina shook her head, looking serious. "No, it was because that madman Barty Crouch Jr.was under the guise of Alastor Moody, the old Auror who had been coming to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts that year.  He was that strict head of Magical International Cooperations Barty Crouchs' son.  He was a Death Eater and basically cleared the way for Harry Potter to win, so that he could help enact the plan to bring back Voldemort," she said, sounding breathless by the end.  "I'm hoping none of the new teachers are secretly evil doers in disguise," she said, then looked scared of the thought.  What if someone who was pretending to be someone else really would be stationed at Hogwarts?

Shuddering at the thought, Irina finished up her food and checked her watch. "Merlin I can't believe the time! I told my sisters I'd be back before dusk to go flying with them," she exclaimed, looking at her friend sheepishly. She dug a bunch of coins out of her purse and slapped them on the table. "My treat, I'll see you at school!" she said, and with a cheerful wave she left the pub.

END IRINA
@annelise