April 14: Attack on Hogsmeade: Puddifoot's

[Mary Macdonald]

open: mary, emmeline, arnie, bellatrix, bronwyn (regulus eventually)...

"Have a beautiful day, you two. Thanks so much for coming in," Mary smiled as another sweet young couple left the shop, light catching the ring on her left hand as she waved them away. She set to cleaning their table with a few flicks of her wand, the shining tea tray balanced on the palm of her other hand, while another of the girls called for the next pair in the queue. Hogwarts Saturdays were always the most fun - she loved keeping up with the young-and-in-love, and was always interested to see who would show up with who from month-to-month, and was dying to see the couple she heard just got engaged - and by far the most frantic. But after so many years at Puddifoot's, Mary was accustomed to the rush, her smile unwavering as she and her fellows all did their parts to move as many pairs through as they could, while not making them feel rushed.

She had her favorites, no doubt about it, and wasn't shy about sneaking them treats or chatting a little too long. Her Housemates then and her housemates now, well, they'd never walk away without trying something new, usually a recipe of her own devising that she shouldn't be handing out willy nilly...But until she had a shop of her own, wasn't this the best audience, and best kitchen, to use? Clarissa kept warning her against it, that Madam would tire of catching her at it, but the redhead was rarely one to be deterred, and trusted in her friendship with their superior. The other girl was just salty that she had pulled the short straw and had to be out front this morning - organizing the queue, educating on the spring specials, giving samples. Not long now until we swap. Should've taken a hat for the sun, going to get your freckles so early this year...

Until then, though - she went to the back with her tray for washing, and quickly pulled a dish from the refrigerator. A cheery dollop of cream went atop, obscuring the veg as pink as her dress, spoons were gathered, and Mary hurried back out. "Trying out a rhubarb tartlet recipe, let me know what you think," she whispered, sliding it onto the little table Emmy and Arnie shared before whisking away to her other tables. Spoiling them on these weekends was a treat for her too, whenever the Em could get the time away, and Mary was happy to do what she could for them. Even though their home was close to the castle and the two hadn't had the extreme pains of distance that some other relationships had failed from, they were still living different lives. For the sake of her friend, Mary was glad that they'd made it this far - she'd never seen Em in love like this, it was truly beautiful - and now that Arnie's graduation was within sight... Engaged soon too?

[Emmeline Vance]

“So anyway, Remus mentioned there is a celebration at the Broomsticks today for him and Charlotte,” she said, taking a sip of her tea as before she smiled across the table at her boyfriend. Between her work with the Order, and her shifts at the Leaky, weekends off at the same time as a Hogsmeade weekend didn’t always happen. But with her friends getting engaged earlier this month, and a proper celebration happening as well as getting the chance to spend some alone time with Arnie, well Tom had been understanding and given her the day off. And she could think of nothing better than spending time here at the tea shop she’d always made fun of Mary for loving. She loved her friends, and she was excited to celebrate them, but she missed days with Arnie. From late-night talks in the tower to finding herself in his dorm on nights when she couldn’t sleep. It was hard, even with the short distance between them. It was so easy with Arnie, and she felt lucky every day that he loved her. “I was thinking we could pop by later this afternoon, although I was hoping to find a present for them at Poe’s.”

There had to be some sort of book that neither Remus nor Charlotte had read, but admittedly Emmeline didn’t know much about her friend's reading habits. Perhaps there would be a book about magical wedding traditions. Emmeline didn’t know of very many, besides the rather ridiculous ones practiced by pureblood elitists. Her own parent's wedding had been a muggle one, due to the many muggle relatives that were invited. Just like one day, her own wedding would be very muggle, as she couldn’t imagine not having her family there to see her on that day. Not that she was in a rush to get engaged or married, she was happy with where she and Arnie were right now. Although she had been thinking about his upcoming graduation from Hogwarts, and what that meant for her living situation. Would they move in together? Would he move into the Hogsmeade house with them all? She didn’t really want to leave her friends, these last months since her own graduation with them had been so fun.

Mary appeared at their table with food, and Em shot her a grin. This was also part of why she liked coming to Puddifoots because Mary always had something new for them to try. “Thank you lovely,” she said, eagerly picking up the spoon to give it a try. It was delicious, which was no surprise, as they’d all grown in their cooking and baking abilities over the last almost year on their own. “Do you have any interviews lined up over the holiday? My ole fella made me interview over the holiday at the Ministry last year, didn’t have the heart to tell him I didn’t want the job.”

[Arnie Peasegood]

"Yeah? Brilliant, we've got to go by." While he hadn't been close with his not-so-softspoken-anymore classmate before this year, he and Charlotte and a few others had fallen into an informal my other half is out saving the world while I'm tucked in support group. And while he'd been floored by news of the engagement, he couldn't not be happy for the pair of bookworms. They'd had some ups and downs this year, and it was good to see things working out - not that he was privy to everything, but he wasn't that terrible at reading people once he got to know them. He got it, as much as he could. It was one thing to imagine his girlfriend home in Hogsmeade - thankfully not alone, as that house was a riot - or working at the Leaky, but another entirely to know that at any time she could be called into the front line. And if they'd been having troubles between them, with everything else? That was more than enough to sour anyone's spirits!

When Emmeline told him about the offer from Dumbledore, winter of her seventh year, he wasn't...shocked, not really, not after some thought. Why wouldn't someone as incredible and capable as her have the opportunity to get involved with the war effort? And, he'd known in his heart then, there was no way she could turn it down. Not with who she was in her heart, and who she would be protecting by bringing this awfulness to an end. While Jake wouldn't ever attend Hogwarts, that didn't mean he was any less deserving of safety, and her little brother was one of countless others who would benefit from her work. That didn't mean he didn't worry - hence their group of sidelined worrywarts - but he understood why she had to fight, and while it wasn't easy, did his best to be supportive. So the chance to celebrate together? With those also making such sacrifices for the common good? Brilliant. "Poe's will do it, absolutely. There's got to be some sort of you're engaged, now what? section, right?" 

Puddifoots never was Arnie's, well, cup of tea - but after their visits became more routine, he'd been picking up on the perks. The garish pink grew on you after a time, and at the end of the day, what was wrong with tea and complementary treat, as Mary always made sure they had? "Thanks, Mary!" he chuckled as the girl swept by, swiftly depositing a little plate at their table like some kind of slight-of-hand dessert magician. He wasted no time joining in, delighting in the clever sweet-and-sour tart, and eyed Em with a grin at her question. Eight weeks to graduation, six to exams - not that he was counting down. "He did, didn't he? Was it his office? The Obliviator office was no joke, and definitely something he was keen to learn more about, if just for the challenge. And to get closer to Mr. Vance. "Wes offered to help set something up, so that's in the works, but we'll have to compose ourselves to pull it off. Both of us in Muggle Relations might be too much of a good time, can't let the interviewer wise up. And if you keep on at the Leaky, I can pop in every day," he grinned.

As not-ready as he was to figure out a career, he was so ready to have the freedom to be with Em. He supposed they should start to talk about how much time they'd be together - would she want to find something for them, or was that too serious, too soon? He had no doubt that he would marry this girl one day, that was damn sure, but one day was a ways away. The almost-graduate really hadn't decided firmly on a life path - besides those he wanted in it, namely the girl across the table. But as for work? There wasn't one branch of magic or field of study that he loved with all his heart, somewhere in the Ministry or out of it that he could imagine himself working in contentment for forever. Starting out with his brother in Muggle Relations could be a good start, though - with their father's family, surely they were experts at relating with muggles already, so why not do it in an official capacity? If he was lucky, he'd get into the Muggle Worthy Excuse Committee, where at least he could be a little clever.

[Bellatrix Lestrange]

There was always something wonderful about a day filled with chaos, and today would be no exception.

Plans had been laid for weeks now for this, timing worked out to attack Hogsmeade on a weekend that would do the most damage. Sure, they could have taken the whole village out earlier this year, but on a weekend where there would be students away from the safety of the school? If their Dark Lord wanted to do the most damage, he had picked a good day for it. Their spies were already in the village, the rest of them waiting for the signal from Voldemort to apparate there. If they arrived too early there wouldn’t be enough students or enough chaos, and those who had children at the school had already given them a proper warning to avoid the village today. Although it would be grand if the pureblood children still stuck at the school chose to join the fight, and prove their allegiance. The room fell silent as the Dark Lord raised his head to look at them all, and she didn’t stop the smirk that crept across her face. It was time.

The first scream from the village as they landed was music to her ears, and her wand was out quicker than anyone could react. They were free to cause whatever destruction they wanted, and the group she was in was quick to scatter. But she had her own goals for today, for Alecto had taken a liking and formed a friendship with her cousin’s fiancée, and it was time to put Bronwyn Nott to the test. Her hand snaked out and grabbed the younger woman’s arm, dragging her with her as buildings around them started to burn. But she had a destination in mind, the frilly tea shop a place she hated more than the others in this small town. “You’re with me today, Nott,” she said under her breath as she pushed the girl forward towards Madam Puddifoot's, green light coming from her wand at a nearby individual who was running from them.

People were reacting, but it was clear the village was caught off guard. The girl handing out samples in front of Puddifoots looked terrified when she saw them, and Bellatrix raised her wand quickly. “Crucio.” The scream that followed was wonderful, and Bellatrix cackled happily as people ran around them. Yes yes, they were to kill as many as possible, but a little torture never hurt, did it? There would be plenty of time and people to kill, they weren’t to stop unless Dumbledore himself made an appearance. “Your turn, Nott. Prove you earned your mark.”