Summer back home was always the best, even when Vivian had only been in Madrid for uni for just one year so far. It was always different, knowing that she had a place she could call home, and the former Slytherin was determined to make each moment matter for the next two months. That included nearly setting the Fairfield-Stylinson kitchen on fire. Nearly, being the keyword there.

And now she was here, tugging Andrei's hand, as she navigated them both through the crowd of people. Vivian had heard quite fun stories about this travelling carnival, and it surely tickled the child in her. Besides, it did advertise itself as an event for the whole family. There should be attractions fit for all ages. Right? They even had a magical petting zoo! What isn't there to like, besides bumping into and getting caught in a sea of strangers?

"Which one do you wanna try first?" The blond grinned as she looked back, wiggling her eyebrows, at Andrei. They could conquer one of the booths together, or turn it to a little competition between themselves. She didn't mind as long as she was enjoying the present with him.

With an embarrassing look on his face, Dorian pretended that his father had not come with him to the carnival. He walked a few steps behind him with his hands in his pockets and whenever the man tried to make him play one of the games he pretended to look around and not notice him.

It wasn't that he did not like his father, he did, but he was going to be fifteen years old soon and he should have been here with his friends and not his parents. While his dad was distracted by a huge plushy prize, the Ravenclaw took the opportunity and ducked down and dissapeared in to the crowd. He'd apologise to his dad later at home.

Looking around and making sure that he was safe from further embarrassment, his blue eyes found a game that seemed interesting to play. As he walked closer to the balloons, he noticed the darts on the table and sighed. He should have been here with his girlfriend and try to win her a prize. But sadly he did not have a girlfriend yet. Siiiiiiiigh!

Ughhhhhh. This whole carnival thing only made Diagon Alley even more irksome. As if there weren't enough people here on an ordinary summer day. Still, the variety of delicious smells wafting from the direction of all the new food stalls had been enough to pique his curiosity and coax him over and Max's pocket was now a couple of sickles lighter. The mac and cheese cone he'd gotten in exchange was totally worth it though.

Seriously lacking in the whole hand-eye coordination department, he knew better than to have a go at one of the games. Nope, there was only one way that would surely end..... disaster and embarrassment. Mostly embarrassment. He could watch though, right?

Watch and eat his mac and cheese. That was the plan.

STEMP DAY OUT!!

Mum and Dad had made a big thing about everyone coming out for the day and as soon as they got here, the entire Stemp family had SCATTERED. Jorgie had ran off with Jude, but had lost him in the crowds here and so she was LOSSSST. But not crying, because Jorgie Monroe was a GROWN UP now so she didn't cry when her brother and best friend in the world wanted to be on his own for a little bit. People didn't understand Judey like she did and so they pestered him when he wanted quiet time. It was simple, honestly!

So she too was having her own quiet time away from Judey and Daddy and also Ocky and Saffy and Reuby. And she was going to WIN some prizes for the littlest Stemps that she loooooooved. (That was Ocky and Reuby, obviously. Daddy could get his own prizes and one for her too)

OOH DART THROWING! Jorgie was good at throwing, you know? Trained since she was little in shoe throwing after her older brothers. "Move move MOOoOOOooooVE." No please and no thank you, but the older boy that was in her way got a scooch and a shuffle gesture with her hip tapping against his leg.

Hi there. Move. Now.

Step-step-step. Stop. Look around.

Just a few paces behind the teenage boy, Enzo the Mime followed Dorian, perfectly miming all of his actions. He'd walk a little bit, then stop and look around, pretending like he was not noticing something - or someone. Soon enough, however, he ducked down as well and followed the boy into the crowd, mimicking his gait.

Enzo the Mime! Just look at how amusing and entertaining he was!

Ah, the balloon dart game! Would the boy step up to play? Enzo gestured grandly at the balloons before miming throwing a dart at one himself and clearly winning, of course!

Juuuuuust as he was about to lean in for a mouthful of cheesy waffle cone a small person bumped into him. He somehow managed to save his cone from becoming pavement food but UGH, THIS was the reason Diagon Alley sucked. There needed to be an age limit. Or there had to be a rule that meant little kids couldn't be left unattended.

"OI!" Yeah, he was looking directly at you tearaway little girl. "I think the words you're looking for are excuse me."

Hadn't her parents taught her any manners!? And speaking of her parents.... "Where's your mum and dad??"

Blah blah blah. Didn't pretty boy REALISE who she was? Didn't he desperately want to eat his food and watch her WIN? If not, he could leave. If so, she'd pay him.

"I meant what I said." The little blonde grinned in his direction and made the most of being smaller by wiggling her way in and paying for a good old game of balloon darting! "Watch and learn!" And then applaud after and maybe hoist her onto your shoulder because that was high up and everyone would see her. Did he know she was JOJO MONROE? VERY IMPORTANT PRINCESS?!!!?!??!

One dart thrown. One balloon popped.

"I'm TWELVE. I don't need babysitting." She just liked them being there because they gave her money. DUH.

Who was this little kid???? She had some nerve!!

Max stood on his tiptoes and peered around, hoping to spot the adult she belonged to so they could come and take her back. But no such luck. He turned his attention to little miss blondie and frowned when she popped a balloon on her very first attempt.

"Twelve? Hah! Twelve means you're practically a baby," he retorted childishly. Was he being baited by a kid? Totally. "You wanna see how it's really done? Here." He moved to steal one of her darts and thrust the mac and cheese cone in her direction. He'd show her.

In actual fact, he was probably about to be shown up by a little girl but TOO LATE.

Had she not been busy, Jorgie would have had her hands on her hips and her jaw would have DROPPED. Baby?! No WAY was she one of those. "You smell as bad as a baby!" And because she couldn't do the hands on the hip, she just tutted at him and stuck her tongue out. That was until he took her next dart right from her hand in exchange for food.

How. Rude.

She hadn't even said that she was hungry! Not that she wasn't, because Jorgie always had time for yummy food. But it was like he had read her mind. GASP. DOUBLE GASP. TRIPLE GASP. WHATEVER A FOURTH WAS GASP. She CLUTCHED the cone against her for a second before giggling. "I liiiike it when a boy shows off." And also when he gave her food.

Which she was now taking a big old bite out of. Yummy.

Thanks 4 the food, new boyfriend.

How very dare she! He wasn't even going to justify that with a response, instead the kid just got more frowns. As a matter of fact, he'd stolen some of his dad's aftershave and he knew he smelled great, so there.

"Yeah? Well prepare to be amazed!" He said, taking his stance and shooting her a look just as she took a NOM out of his cone. The bratty little kid stranger who probably had gross, grubby little hands was now stealing his food! Ew, she could keep it.

With a frustrated huff, Max turned back to the balloons...... took aim, and gave it his best flaily shot and...... missed catastrophically. The dart was miiiiiiiles off, hit the backboard and flopped onto the floor. 100% meant to do that.

There was no need for preparation. Jorgie was amazed already. Amazed and in loooooooooooove with the boy that had given her food. The food that she was eating like her love depended on it. Which it did. Boys didn't like it if you didn't eat the food they gave you, right? It was like when they got you perfume and you didn't wear it. Or something like that. Mummy and Daddy had an argument about that last year. Or maybe it was Saffy and an old boyfriend. Hmmmmmm. Definitely wasn't Lilah or Ringo. They didn't even LIKE people like that. Boooooooooring.

Unfortunately, boyfriend was VERY bad at the dart game they were playing together and she couldn't help but giggle loudly and stretch to look where the dart went. "CUTE. It fell for me like you did!" Shoving the cone back at him, Jorgie sooched him out of the way again with her hip and took a shot with dart number three.

Well she was definitely better than him. "One more and I wi-- why aren't you clapping for me?!"

The audacity of this child, HONESTLY.

Maybe her mum and dad had lost her on purpose just so they could catch a break for a little while because she was ANNOYING. He couldn't say he blamed them, wherever they were.

"If my hands weren't full, I'd totally clap," he said, humouring her a little and holding up his food as proof. Did she want to finish it off? Because otherwise he was gonna bin it. Who knew where her little fingers had been. Probably picking up worms and stuff because that's what little kids did. Grosssss.

"I don't think two out of three darts wins you a prize though, so technically you lost." Just saying. Sorry, not sorry.

GASP.

DOUBLE GASP.

TRIPLE GASP.

FOUR WAY GASP.

"You lost it for me! I would have won!!!" And she WANTED to win. Jorgie always wanted to win and Jorgie always got what she wanted. So she stamped her foot and SNATCHED the cone back from him. It WAS hers now and they were having their first lovers tiff. How cute! She was going to remember this forever. Hmm.. what could she steal to remember it by? THE DART ON THE FLOOR!

Oh, she'd go get it in a minute.

She held her other hand out and wiggled her fingers. "More money please. You owe me a game."

She wasn't wrong, he most definitely had lost it for her. But hey, this was a life lesson. You couldn't always win. He'd done her a favour really.

He eyed her outstretched palm and scoffed. "You ain't getting a single knut out of me, kid." Nope. Not happening. He barely had enough money as it was and he needed to get himself a new mac and cheese cone. Or maybe he'd try nachos this time.

EITHER WAY, she wasn't getting anything. She could bug some other chump, cos this one was done.

Excuuuuuuuse me?!

Jorgie's jaw DROPPED and she stared for a few seconds at her boyfriend. Were they about to have their SECOND argument?! Did he know that second arguments always ended in kisses and hand holding? Did he? Because he was heading for it and she wasn't sure she was ready for such seriousness in her relationship yet. They'd only just shared food!

"Pay for my game or I'll scream."

Despite his normally observant skills, Dorian had been unaware of the mime following him until he had ducked down in order to get rid of his father. And even then he wasn't sure if it was mimicking him or if the mime just happened to have dropped something.

But his suspicion came true when he arrived at the dart game and the mime was gesturing for him to play it and....even threw an invisible dart?? Oh Merlin's Beard

Scratching the back of his head, Dorian knew that it was a festival and all but this was embarrassing for him... Why a mime out of all?! He could get a balloon from the Balloons Guy but a mime? What? Ugh whatever, he was here already and he might as well play the game. "How does it work? Do i just throw the darts?"

Okay........ the screaming thing wasn't cool.

Max gulped and peered around some more. Wasn't anyone going to HELP? He didn't need some random little girl screaming and crying next to him. What would people think???

How was he supposed to get out of this one???

And that's when his eyes landed on one of the younger boys he somewhat recognised from school. Sorry, Dorian, this little kid was getting fobbed off on you. Hopefully. Max not so subtly pointed him out. "I bet he'll give you some money. He looks like he's got a ton of money."

No no no.

Jorgie Stemp had grown up with Saffron and Corbin constantly palming her off to Ringo or Lilah and she KNEW this trick. KNEW IT. So she tossed the cone to the floor and grabbed for boyfriend's pockets. "Money money money, please." Gimme gimme gimme some money before midnight, gorgeous.

"Count of three."

Oh. Actually she had a better idea.

"Let's find a game you're good at. You can win me a prize and I'll forgive you."

He'd escaped home because he hadn't wanted to deal with annoying little siblings, but this girl was even WORSE than what he was used to dealing with. Was she actually going for his pockets!?!? Who raised this kid!?!?!?!

Completely and utterly horrified, Max swiped her hands away and tried to take several steps back.

O__O

"If I play another game, will you leave me alone!?" The whole prize winning thing was highly unlikely though, let's face it.

Oh, games! Viviana loved games and she was pretty good at them, too. Well, she was pretty good at logical games. She wasn't so sure how well she would fare at these sorts of carnival games. But they looked interesting and she was eager to try. And she really, really wanted a prize.

The fifteen year old noticed the mime first, who made her giggle as he mimicked the boy and acted as if he were playing the game. Or was he demonstrating? She wasn't quite sure, but she found him mildly amusing. And, oh! She did know that boy, or at least who he was. Dorian was in her house and in her year, though she wasn't sure they ever had a conversation.

Viviana stepped over to the balloon game on the other side of Dorian and turned her eyes up towards the oversized stuffed unicorns and hippogriffs. "Are you going to play?" she asked the boy, hoping that she could watch so she could figure out how to win something for herself.

Ummmmmmmmm.

Why didn't he want to be around her?! Was he playing hard to get? Some people would find that cute, but not Jorgie Stemp. She wanted her boyfriend to WANT her desperately at every second and want to hold her hands until their palms got sweaty and rub the back of her hand with his thumb and siiiiiiiiiiigh... how perfect would all of that be?

"If you win me a prize, I'll let you go get more food for us." Duh.

How does it work?? Enzo the Mime gave the boy an e x a g g e r r a t e d and flourishy shrug. He wasn't technically in charge of the games here, but they were easy enough to figure out and he was having a fun interaction. And he was oh so entertaining for the kids!

Oh, and who was this little miss? Was she the young sir's girlfriend? Enzo folded his hands to the side of his chin and twirled around them in delight. Of course the boy must win a prize for her! He gestured towards the darts lying on the ledge of the booth - one! two! three! Three darts for the big prize.

And speaking of big prizes. Enzo got out his invisible "lasso", mimed circling it around his head, and "lassoed" the biggest stuffed unicorn at the top of the game's booth. He pulled, and pulled, and pulled.... but it was just so heavy!

With the very unhelpful help of the mime, Dorian had figured out the point of the game himself by observing a nearby kid and picked up one of the darts when a girl next to him spoke up

Turning his head sideways, Dorian tried to remember where he had seen her before when it clicked. She was his Housemate and even in the same year as he was but because they didn't hang out together it had taken him some time. Not to mention that he had been getting used to them wearing their school uniforms, especially last term when it had been mandatory to wear them at all time. "I guess i am" He said and got ready to throw the dart when the mime distracted him by circling around them for whatever reason. "What's he doing??" he half whispered to Viviana and then watched as the mime pretended to lasso one of the stuffed animals.

......was he trying to hint he should win one of those for Viviana? He could dig with that. Clearing his throat, the fifth year rolled up his sleeve so that he could move his arm easier and then threw the dart at one of the balloons and....missed.

. . . . "For real?" he blinked for a couple of seconds before he let out a light laugh, not even trying to hide or come up with an excuse for his fail and picked up another dart and held it up for her. "Want to try?"

.............. Max just stared at her for a moment, dumbfounded.

Little girls were weird. SOOO weird. This one was even weirder than his youngest sister and he didn't even think that was possible. One thing Max knew for sure, he definitely wasn't getting her more food. No, sir.

"If I win you a prize, you have to go away. How about that?" He regretted his words the moment they left his lips though, because HAH, there was no way he was winning a prize. Maybe the vendors would let him just buy a prize.

Pretty please?