Chewing on her chocolate wand, Genny studied the older blonde who was approaching her the way her dad taught her. She didn't look evil, she was aware people's appearances were not always genuine but she was the one going about asking strangers so the girl wasn't trying to cause any trouble. "I don't need help." She replied instantly, she was big enough to be allowed out without a father. "But I do need to find daddy. I was with him, but then I went to get some candy--" The shadow around her mouth attested that it was more than some. "--came out and couldn't find him." Pause. "I'm sure he's around here somewhere, though." She added quickly, not giving the girl any ideas in case she WAS up to no good.

If Genny had her own wand, she would've been able to defend herself in case anything went wrong. See, her dad made some bad decisions too by not allowing her one yet.

"You want to help me?" She asked cautiously. "You don't have a date at Madam Puddifoot's?" Like the rest of people her age and hair color? Genny was no fool, see.

Benny smiled at the girl and hoped that she didn’t look scary. She had her Mama for … well a Mother and she knew what scary could look like - but as far as she knew, she didn’t have any of that in her. Nope, she took after her dad… Mostly anyway. Heh. Movinnng on.

Okay, so she didn’t need help she was just looking for ….? Hmm. Watching her as she babbled slightly (she reminded her of Marsha on a sugar-high) she made a motion for her to slow down. ”How about this… I would like to help you find your Dad… but only if you would like me to help...” There… no pressure. That worked with adults and men - but would it work wih a child under eleven? Who knew - she would soon find out. ”My name is Benedetta, but you can call me Benny.”

”No,” she said with a smile. ”I don’t have a date at Puddifoot’s.” She tilted her head slightly to the side as if trying to figure out where that question had come from. ”Why did you think I had a date?”

”You know, I have a niece about your age, she just started Hogwarts. How long do you still have to wait until you can go to school there?” Niiice simple question to show the girl that even with a slight Italian-lilt to her english, she was lovely and that she wouldn’t hurt her. Kids related to kids… At least from what she remembered of being a child, she had… but then what did she know really? She had fourteen siblings and Merlin only knows how many cousins.

"Thanks!" Emma grinned and almost bounced but THAT would have had her loosing all her coins she had. "Mummy that's Toby." She looked up at her mum, relaying her new found information proudly, then her attention was back on Toby. "Do you go to Hogwarts with my Papa? We came to see him cause he's gotta stay here 'til..." The toddler released one hand and with her most focused face tried to count the months. "Um, I dunno how long 'til school is over but he gotta stay for that long. Except for when he visits us at night." Those where her favoritest nights cause she had mummy and lulu and papa. And sometimes they let her sleep in their bed!

That was a bit more than Arya wanted Emma to tell, and while she was used to Emma telling more than she should, it just made her uncomfortable considering past events that her daughter didn't know. At least it was only to a student. "Thank you, Toby. Like Emma said we're here to meet her father." But they most certanily were not here for butterbeer because of allergies and strong aversion reasons. "I hope we're not slowing you down." She remembered how precious time outside of the castle was. Arya looked back at her child. "Em, go ahead and Toby what coins you have."

"We got 'em ALL." While they talked about unimportant stuff, Emma had been walking all around them searching for stray coins and collecting them, even if they didn't belong to Toby. He could have them now and be their new owner! She walked back out to him and looked at the coins pooled in her skirt. "I think we got at least more than ten." She had a number of coins, all different colors. Her favorite were the little silver ones cause they were the shiniest. But she had a couple of bronze and gold coins too.

It had been difficult to focus on his work today. Not only was it a beautiful day, but the prospect of seeing his family again had the words and lines on his paperwork swimming constantly before his eyes. Nothing worked for holding his attention, and he had found himself wandering to the window of his office several times before he decided that enough was enough.

It made him early, leaving Hogwarts to travel down to Hogsmeade, but Sabel figured that his time could be better spent shopping for some treat for his daughter and maybe something nice for his wife. He had a few coins to spare and more than enough of sitting around in a chair, idling the time by.

He was on his way to the candy shop, when a scene in the middle of the street stopped him in his tracks. It was instant recognition for the three of them, and he couldn't help but wonder at the odds of such a meeting. A full grin lit up his face as he watched his wife and daughter so diligently offering a helping hand, Emma hardly being shy in front of the older boy.

It always amazed him how much she had grown, and how fast she was growing up. It was a brief glimpse into the future, when he imagined her the same age as Fuller-Thompson. A glimpse he quickly shut away. He wasn't ready for such things. Needed a few more gray hairs on his head and practice with the students that were, at times, proving more of a teacher to him than he felt to them.

Heading over to the group, Sabel grinned broadly as he stopped just shy of Arya's shoulder, moving his hand to lightly touch her elbow as he gave Fuller-Thompson a nod and turned his smile down to his daughter. "That looks mighty heavy. Someone's grown some muscle's since I saw her last."

Genny considered the girl's (who turned out to be called Benny) offer. "I think that's fine." She just wanted to establish that she was old enough withOUT having to look for her father, that was an important point. "We can look for him together." It was more fun this way. The brunette nodded her head and introduced herself back, "You can call me Genny." Last names were not allowed to be shared with strangers, her dad wasted no second reminding her.

'Why?' Genny gave her an incredulous look. "You don't know?" Oh this was not good. "That's what girls your age do. I don't quite know why yet, but I'm sure there's a good reason, everybody's doing it." Suddenly, Genny was feeling sorry for the girl. "Come, we can look for my father and a date for you." She held her hand and urged her to walk down the street.

"One and a half year." She confirmed, her eyes searching the faces for dad or a good looking person for Benny. "Does she like it there? My dad used to be the headmaster." She beamed proudly. "Now David's mother is running it." But her dad did it better.

This kid was like... super adorable? Like SUPER adorable. Toby had never really been around really little kids before, other than his little brother (who wasn't even one yet), not since he'd been one himself. So seeing Emma was like... too much. But not really. Would Curtis be as cute as this?

"I think I must do. I take every class, so maybe he's my teacher." Toby was sort of slow at processing things, sometimes. And that was the case with the information about the girl's father, but it did trigger his memory. Eventually. Because there was a teacher at the school who'd told Toby about a daughter named Emma...

*DINK* There was the lightbulb switching on in Toby's head. This was Professor Dakest's family, surely. The thought made Toby smile, and he remembered sitting and conjuring flowers and stuff. He thought about bringing it up, but decided against it. What if the flower spell was going to be a surprise?

"That's awesome. I bet it's exciting whenever you get to see him," was what Toby eventually did say, and even he didn't know whether it was directed at Arya or Emma, so he just smiled at both of them. "I know it is for me when I get to go see my dad." And he was like all full grown and everything. Time stretched out when you were a little kid, so it was probably waayayyayayayayyyyayyayyyyy more special. Toby smiled at Arya. "Oh, no. Not slowing me down at all." Well, maybe that wasn't true, but sometimes Toby liked to be slowed down, especially when it meant meeting new people. So he didn't feel bad about lying.

Back to Emma again. "Wow, that's fantastic, I'm impressed," he replied, putting on his best dramatic 'WOAH' face. He cupped his hands and held them out. "Can you put them into my hands for me?"

Toby kind of wanted to give her a couple of coins or something, to say thank you, but what if Arya didn't like that? Toby glanced at her now and spoke quietly. "Is it maybe alright if I give-..."

But he trailed off and looked up, noticing that someone else had joined the group; Professor Dakest himself. He shut up then, forgetting he was midway through a sentence, and returned Dakest's nod. Still smiling of course, even though it was awk because this was a professor that Toby REALLY LIKED but also REALLY DID NOT UNDERSTAND AT ALL. He stayed quiet, not wanting to interrupt the moment of Emma seeing her dad again or anything.

'People'

Okay. That would have been TOO easy. But it had been worth a try. So Maggie just smiiiiiiiled. Yes. Not bothered at all by that answer. That was totally what she'd wanted to hear. Totes. Leaning back a little, she smirked too. "So presents?" She wasn't going to give up that easily.

Maggie didn't know either so she just continued to smile. And twirl her hair a little.

"I like the term gifts better." The brunette glanced at the younger girl thoughtfully for a moment and then looked away, brown eyes focused on a shop across the street. "Though I'll only be buying said gifts if the shops here have anything I think is suitable." Because Maddie liked giving gifts that meant something which is why she usually made the gifts herself.

"Buying any gifts today, Maggie?" The fourth year raised her eyebrows, not bothering with the smile.

Had she just been Ravenclaw'd?

Maggie squinted at the other girl for just half a second before going back to smiling at her. Huh? Wasn't that the same thing? Pretty much. Gifts. Presents. She was tempted to ask why but decided that she would probably sound stupid doing so. So no. That was definitely NOT the point of this conversation.

"What's suitable then?" That seemed like a safe question.

Was SHE buying anything? "Maaaaaybe." There was a hint of a smirk playing around her lips. "So maybe we should keep moving. This-" Her eyes flicked towards the Simply Stylish Salon for a moment. "-doesn't seem to be selling any...presents." Yes. She was going to stick with HER word.

Or else Maddie would think Maggie was copying her. Pfft.

Smiling, the Italian girl woman nodded her head. She was good with helping the young girl under whichever terms she wanted to go… Benny just didn’t really like the thought of leaving a nine year-old to wander around herself; even if it was just around Hogsmede… She was too protective of her own family, and she had just realised that could be transferred to anyone she felt needed help.

”It is lovely to meet you Genny.” Benny couldn’t help the small smile that played over her lips as the younger female looked sorry for her. Oh, sweetie - what you don’t know yet won’t hurt you. ”Oh, of course we do.” She smiled, nodding. ”I just don’t have a … date this time.” Though, she was sure that she could find someone to have dinner with back at Hogwarts if she really wanted to.

Okay, so. Benny had to try REALLY hard not to laugh. She couldn’t help it… she knew that Genny was trying to help her but she wasn’t really one to date as most people knew of it. Though, that wasn’t to say that she didn’t enjoy her life and her freedom. Yup, being an adult was good - though she had a serious feeling that it wouldn’t be as carefree once she left the secure grounds of the school.

But yes. Genny and Benny were looking for Tate and a Date.

Merlin, when did her life turn into a rhyme?

”Very cool. Are you looking forward to it?” The blonde asked as they continued down the street. ”Yes, she really likes it. She is a Gryffindor and seems to be as hyper as ever, fitting in perfectly with the others in her house.” Benny smiled wide, she remembered some of her family members mentioning the current Headmistress - and the Headmaster before. Interesting.

”So… What does your Dad look like, if I’m going to help look for him?” She asked, figuring right now she had no idea who she was looking for.

Despite the cold of winter, Lux was happy for the Hogsmeade weekend. She loved this time of year because it meant that she could see Bay and her sister as well as her friends.

It also meant that she could go shopping!!

Lux loved shopping, and she wondered where she would go first. There were quite a few options and she couldn't decide if she wanted to eat first or after. Both food and buying things were amazing so it really was a hard choice to make. For the moment she would just stand in front of the joke shop and look inside. Jokes were funny even if she wasn't a prankster by any means.

Finally! Her debut trip to Hogsmeade! Ariana had been wanting to this for a while now but it took a whole lot of begging and asking of favours but she was here..finally and so was Dax.... (another person she had to beg). She probably had the most difficult friends in life.

She dragged Dax a long the streets not entirely sure where she should go. She did have a pocket full of galleons to blow though so maybe they should start at the sweet shop.

"What do you say Dax? Where to?" The youngest Bellaire turned to look at her excitedly.

He didn't get it, honestly didn't see the appeal or even why Ari wanted to come all the way to Hogsmeade when they had their own village they wouldn't get in trouble for visiting this weekend. Sometimes he could swear it was the possibility of getting him into trouble that had her doing what she did and with every idea she came up with, he was more and more convinced.

"I don't really know all that many places around here, only this one tea shop but it'll be crowded with Hogwarts kids." Come to think of it, if this was their free weekend then everywhere would be crawling with them.

"Sweets are never a bad idea." They could offer some to whoever BUSTED THEIR BUTTS for this trip and hope it got them one less night in the dungeons. Quite the optimist he was. "Heard the Headmaster's found of peppered imps."

Cosgrach decided to visit the town too, because the castle had been boring and he decided to buy something for Helena.But of course, kids were EVERYWHERE, and soon he wasn't really feeling like shopping. Well, this was a bummer. However, it was still too early to lock himself up at the castle, so he decided to hang out more - and his eyes fell on Lux... in front of the joke shop.

HAH. Never thought she was that type, but there she was! Well, he ought to ask her plans, then. He approached her visibly - didn't want to scare her, after all, and whiiiiiiiiispered "Plannin' something?"

Because it'd be reasonable to whisper on a busy street.

Tea?! Did Dax Sanders just say tea? Did he expect her to not drag them there? Ariana Bellaire was about that tea life. She fixed him with a huge grin. Of course her friend knew that meant, Hogwarts kids or not they would be going to get tea.

She fingered through her hair and looked around. Hmm how easy would it be to blend in with the hogwarts kids and have a look around their school. She'd definitely love to see where her mother worked....but fleas....yuck.

"So sweets then tea and then we find Angelo." Because she was sure that he was among the other Durmies that came over too.

"Who told you that?" She had never heard of the peppered imps thing. "Do you get inside information that I don't know about?"

It only took one look, just that one look for him to deadpan.

They...were going to get tea.

T____T

Dax surpressed the sigh that threatened to fall from his lips, choosing instead to look around the somewhat crowded street. He didn't know a lot of Hogwarts students and wouldn't hold his breath about running into the few he did knew. His face only lit up with interest at the mention of finding Angelo mostly because it meant not being stuck in a tea shop all day. "Yeah sounds like a plan." He nudged her and began walking. Didn't know where he was going but sweets looked like they could be this way.

He snorted at her silly question. "Of course I get information Ariana. Don't you think there has to be some perks to being a snitch? It's not all bloody noses and getting shoved into closets when no one's looking you know." In this day and age, snitches didn't only get stitches, they also got valuable information to be stored away for later. Information that would help the Prefect NOT get killed when they got back.

"And don't think the both of you are going to run off and leave me stranded here so you can go chase Hogwarts girls around." She was not here for that. They were not here for that. She folded her arms and looked at him. It was awfully tough having two guys are your best-friends. She sighed and followed behind him as they walked on.

"I still don't understand why you're so proud of being a rat. And it's not even like you have any loyalty to a specific person either..." Dax was a special case by himself. One minute she thought he had him figured out and next he completely blind sided her. "So how come you're so tight lipped with all the information. I think I can find great uses for that kind of intel."

He actually snorted at that. Was she being for real? "I do not chase girls around, Bellaire, least of all Hogwarts ones." Him and Angelo had already talked about this, all of this and certain things still stood. "You'd be better off telling him that than me though what'd you take him for? A pig?"

Dumb question. Ariana had something less than zero faith in both him and Angelo and she never forgot to show it. Circe.

"And I'm not a rat. Those things crawl around in the dungeons were jerks who can't follow the rule get placed. My loyalties are my own and I go wherever the grass grows greenest." When you had an opportunistic self-preservationist then you had Dax. That was him. Anything to save himself while getting him what he wanted.

The boy was no rebel and he was no rule breaker either (until you added Ari). "Only tight lipped until it benefits me not to be."

Oh well she would beg to disagree with that one. She knew full well that he did. Did he want her to start naming names, because she could do that too? Alas she did not want to get into a fight with him right now, especially since he was her only company. It wasn't like she could ignore him and talk to Angelo until her anger towards him abated.

"Yes, sometimes I do take you both for pigs but I digress." She was dropping it for now.

Ariana shook her head. She wasn't the least bit surprised by his answer. "You're so hopeless I swear." She tapped her pocket and listened to the jingle of galleons.

"I think it would benefit you in more ways than one to divulge information with me."

Dax had a million reasons to be offended at what she'd just said, maybe a million and one but the fact he found it so amusing had him grinning instead. "Guess that makes you a friend of pigs. Should really pick your company better if it bothers you."

Quite an interesting thought when you got down to it. Despite whatever she thought about them she must have liked them an awful lot to tolerate everything they got up to.

For another thing, being hopeless didn't bother him. If people expected less of him, they wouldn't be nearly as disappointed or blindsided by the choices he chose to make with his life. Just something he'd realized a long time ago.

The jingling in her pocket got him all kinds of interested. Sure he won his own money in competitions but you could never have enough galleons, just ask anyone. "I'm listening."

"That's exactly what it makes me. I am a friends of pigs." Funny thing was that her mother thought they were nice boys from good stock but really she had no idea about the stuff Dax and Angelo got up to. Funny how nothing got past her..except for those two. " I used to think that I was smarter about making friends...apparently I'm not."

Ariana laughed and moved her hand from her pocket. "I'm not giving you my money Sanders." She laughed again. That was hilarious though..it really was. "I just mean that I have valuable information of my own and I come in quite handy in a tight spot." Very useful if anyone asked her.

Oh ho ho, now wasn't that something? Dax gasped, just for the dramatics of it all, quite amused by her choice of words. "The great Ariana Bellaire admitting she's not as smart as she thinks she is? And here I thought we had another century before the world came to an end. Better make quick speed to that candy shop otherwise I reckon the earth will erupt in fire before I get a pack jelly slugs."

Good thing he knew she didn't mean a word of it. Ari had to like him. He saw what she was like when it was otherwise and so far she hadn't sent anyone to punch out his lights. Obviously he was doing something right.

Dax's brow rose with nothing but skepticism. It was hard to deny Ari knew things but what he found hard to believe was her knowing anything he actually cared about. "Name one thing I'd actually care if you told me or not."

THIS time he was listening. The list couldn't be all that long.

"Ha ha you're very funny...NOT!" He knew exactly what she meant but leave it Dax to be a right git in the most inappropriate settings. "Seeing as I didn't exactly say I wasn't the smartest person in the world.....I'd say we have plenty of time before this world meets an end."She shoved him forward roughly as a punishment of sorts for his wise crack.

"I'm pretty sure you'd pay big for all the juicy details on professor Ivanov." She had practically sung that out at him and the pleased look on her face made it quite obvious that she knew she was right.

One might ask themselves, how four constitutes a mob. Not entirely an impressive or intimidating number. One would then need to look at the mannerisms of those within the 'mob' designation. The ability of four bodies to occupy an entire street, for instance. Or the boisterous capacity with which they do so.

So, if anyone should happen upon this rabble, they might be so inclined to label it as, yes, a mob. A bunch. A collection. Rather numerous terms can be associated with the group, but their description remains rightly simple, possibly and probably mundane.

Of the four, two are men and two are women. They can only be described as square, nearly oval, rectangular and triangle-shaped. As varied as the color of their hair and eyes, there is a uniformity to them. All have dressed themselves in sweaters of varying colors and designs, the women sporting thick suede boots while the men appear utterly comfortable in sneakers, and yes, a pair of sandals. In addition, each has slung a camera about their necks and walks with a phone in hand. Lacquered fingernails punch at unseen keys on the devices, while one of the men has a tendency to stop every ten feet, only to hold up the contraption and strike a pose varying from charming to ridiculous. The forefront leader seems uninterested in such activities, and has taken to roaming from one side of the street to the other.

"Surely, he couldn't have gone far." The triangle woman.

The square one types furiously. "Oh, but you know Alan." A tsk noise. Or is that the buttons she pushes?

The oval man waddles along. Stops. Points up the hill. "Could be up there. Reckon that castle got his interest plenty."

The triangle and square both look up, scowls on their lipsticked lips. "Don't be absurd."

"Castles are boring."

"And damp."

"And haunted." A shiver from the triangle one.

"Now who's being absurb? There's no such thing as ghosts." A start of a bicker. An argument fully involved. The mob keeps moving, the leader searching, the others squabbling like newly hatched chicks.

Damien Anderson-Belfort was all bundled up, it was cold, colder than it had been in Chicago even and the boy was feeling it in his damn bones. He had half a mind to trek back up to the castle and forget all about this little Hogshead trip, but then he was badly in need of fresh air and new atmosphere.

It was fairly quiet tonight and that was what made it easy for Damien's ears to overhear the conversation being had by the odd group of people he'd walked by.

Castles, haunted places, pretty standard fare, really for first time Hogsmeade visitors, but there was something about them that caught the boy's attention. They had cellphones and they were using them with all the experience and dexterity of a teenage girl.... That was, well, really unusual for wizards... It was weird, really weird. He wasn't thinking about following them, nor was he, but Damien found himself trying to catch something of what they were saying.

His curiosity was piqued.