[Pudditfoots] What's the use....

[Catriona Devain]

Another day was upon her. As her eyes fluttered open to the sun streaming in her room the shop owner wondered if she should even bother to get up. The rumors about the school were well known around Hogsmeade and because of this business had been so slow people were staying away afraid that the drama would soon follow here. So for days on end Catriona would get up every morning make all her wears for the shoppe and sit there while no one walked in.

Food was being wasted on a regular basis, but she loved to bake it soothed her soul and every morning she did it without fail. Lucky for her evanesco was a handy little spell that could make things disappear. Now that she made that realization she got up, dressed, and climbed down the stairs into her shoppe.

The kitchen had soon come to life there was whirring from the blender, chopping sounds from the food processor, the ticking of the stove. Then within minutes delicious smells were wafting through the place. Soon there were pastries, deserts, coffee's, and tea's for everyone's taste buds. Catriona loved this part of her job. The cooking made it exciting and it gave her time alone with her thoughts. Now all she needed was the customers to come back and she would be in good spirits.

Profits were taking a huge tumble at this rate. This made her wonder how much longer she could stay open. The shoppe was her dream and loosing it was not an option. In her mind she kept saying today would be different so it would be. Mind over matter that's the ticket.

Placing the last canolli out in the bakery case she heard the bell above the door. Someone was here, this was a good day. Coming out from behind the counter she went to greet the guest "Hello and welcome to Madam Puddifoot's is there anything I can get you today?" Always professional Catriona wasn't going to let the lack of business change her etiquette.

[Dax Simmons]

Dax looked at his watch with great agitation as he saw that another ten minutes had passed by and there was still no sign of Grace. It was a Monday morning and she had had a Quidditch game on the Saturday and it has come some what of a tradition for the two old friends to met up after every game to have a natter about it. But as Dax sat on the bench next to the Majestic Bird and the minutes seemed to tick by he had a feeling she was not going to show. This was in fact only confirmed when an elegant tawny owl swooped down and perched directly next to him and attached to its leg was a letter addressed to him.

Dax,
I am sorry I am not there but Jonas…

He did not need to read anymore, in fact he did not want to. Instead the owl got a fond ruffling of the feathers in thanks before the Grounds man stood up, hands shoved into his pockets as he trudged his way up the high street. At first Dax thought he might as well go back to his cabin and spend the afternoon with Alice but instead he let his legs carry him to stand outside the small teashop. Puffing out his checks the ex-Hufflepuff tried to make the decision weather to enter or not but he did push open that door, the little bell did tinkle above and he was greeted happily by the owner.

“G-Good Morning” Dax greeted her back as he looked around the empty tea shop half expecting to see Grace sitting in the corner giggling away as the whole thing had been a joke. Maybe that was he had entered the shop, in the hope that if she was to turn up she would know where to find him. If he was not careful he would be spending most of the day sitting over a stone cold cup of tea staring aimlessly at the door. Snapping out of this ludicrous thought he looked back at the witch and put on his best smile. “Just a pot of tea for one please.”

[Catriona Devain]

When he walked in and didn't walk right back out Cat felt some hope yet. Most people stared through the window and looked like they might walk in but fought against the urge and kept going. Cat hated that but since things were so weird she supposed they couldn't be blamed. The man standing there lifted her spirits just by his mere presence at least one person wasn't afraid to walk around Hogsmeade. Even some shop owners had stopped opening their doors, pitiful signs on the glass saying they've gone away. Run away is more like it.

The man didn't say anything for a while Cat stared at him as he looked around the place. She couldn't fathom what he thought he would find since he was the only customer. When he didn't seem to find what he was looking for Cat started to fear he was going to leave her once again all alone. Getting on her hands and knees and begging him to stay occurred to her, then again she would come off looking like a loon. Hopefully he would just stay.


He spoke up eventually and asked for a cup of tea. Had it been professional to do so Cat would have let out a loud whoop. First customer in oh so long. "Tea I can manage that what kind would you like? Please sit sit I'll even throw in a pastry free whatever you like." Giving things away given the state of things wasn't business savvy but having a repeat customer even just one was. So maybe if she made him feel extra special he would come back and see her again.

Trailing back behind the counter she waited for his order she grabbed a tea cup, as well as a plate in case he did take her up on her offer of a pastry, though why wouldn't he they were delicious she ought to know she tasted them every morning. This usually meant an extra work out every day but hey a sweets a sweet and she loved them.