(T.Broomsticks) Christmas cheer

[Girty Hubbles]

The snow was falling outside as the December snow fell down upon Hogsmeade. In the evening light a figure could be seen moving through the snow. The light from the shops lit the way and as a cool wind blew it caused a snow drift to whirl around Girty’s ankles. Slowly she moved her way down the street Girty made her way to the Three Broomsticks. The noise and laughter could be heard from out in the street and it just willed Girty on to get out of the cold and into the warmth of the pub.

As she pushed open the door the mixed smells of spices and butterbeer filled her lungs. Her eyes darted around at the locals soaking in the festive cheer, music was blaring out in from the old record player in the corner while the drunks were already singing. Pulling down her snow covered hood and taking off her black and yellow scarf Girty’s wide grin was revealed.

“Evening Miss Hubbles. You seem full of cheer!”
“Tis the season to be jolly Paul!”
Girty laughed as she made her way towards the tinsel lined bar and slid into once of the bar stool and rested her elbows on the table while looking at the collection of drinks behind the bar.
“I think my usual thanks Paul.”
“Double or single?”
“Make it a double; it is a Friday night after all.”
“Is your brother coming in tonight?”
“Yes…..but he will be with Dia…”
“Ah the famous professor Owen….” The bar man slid the purple drink across the counter towards Girty “Three sickles please Miss Hubbles….hang on he is going out with his misses and you go to the same pub.”

With a small laugh Girty pulled the silver coins out of her pocket and placed them upon the counter. Still laughing Girty reached out and picked up the glass, tipping it from side to side watching the liquid swish from one side to the other, before rising the glass to her lips and letting the liquid run down her throat. At first the drink tasted like violets but as that taste faded away the alcohol kicked in. Coughing at power of the drink Girty put the glass on the table and grinned at Paul.

“That is strong tonight, have you got a different supplier?”
“Yes it is from Mexico…..but you're avoiding my question.”
“I do not trust him.” Girty answered rather bluntly and suddenly. “He does not deserve someone like Dia, she is an idiot to be with him and I know he will miss it up. After all it is Dan and I know if he did do something foolish and hurts her he would not be able to live with himself so I am here to protect him!”

Paul could do nothing but laugh as he picked up the coins and wondered over to serve some of the other people in the pub. Still laughing to herself Girty took another mouthful of her drink watching the drunks dance around the Christmas tree and singing out of tune at the top of their lungs. Suddenly a cold chill ran through the pub as the door opened, turning around Girty watched the new arrival enter.

[Jac Shaw]

It was coming, closer everyday. Christmas was just around the corner and Jac was getting more and more excited. She had been getting daily letters from her family telling her how plans were coming together and changing and how much everyone was looking forward to seeing her. The last bit was the bit that Jac loved the most. She had arranged with her older brother, Ed, that he meet her in The Three Broomsticks for a quick get together to talk about Christmas presents. Yup, Christmas cheer was in the air.

As she entered the pub, the warmth burned against her ice cold face. It had been the only uncovered part of her body and she regretted it now. She removed her jacket and scarf and looked around for some sign of Ed or his fiancé and long time girl friend, her flowing long blond hair was usually very easy to spot through a crowd. With a sigh, Jac resigned herself to the fact that she saw neither of them. She marched to the bar and smiled at the barman.

"One butterbeer, please Paul," she said.
"Coming right up, lassie," he replied.

Soon a large tankard was sliding down the table for her. "Thanks Paul," she said and gave him the money before he asked for it. Jac always had butterbeers so knew the price by now. She picked up the tankard and turned to see who else was there she might know. Jac's eyes instantly fixed on the cheery face of Girty. Jac made her way to where Girty was sitting and joined her.

"Hiya, Girt," Jac said happily, putting her large tankard onto the table. "What you doing here?" she asked, interested. It was surely something to do with the Guild but Jac didn't want to come out and ask if it was. There were spies everywhere. Thinking this, Jac glanced over her shoulders suspiciously at everyone in the pub. "Is it about ... you ... know ... what?" Jac whispered cupping a hand next to her mouth and leaning close to the table.

[Girty Hubbles]

As Girty saw Jac enter the pub she could not help but let out a small laugh, it had been a wile since she had seen her good friend and when they did it was always in rather unsociable situations where throwing berti botts beans at each other would not really be acceptable. Girty was about to shout her across when she realised that she was clearly looking for someone.
Changing her attention back to her drink Girty watched the purple liquid slowly vanish from the glass and the sensation of the alcohol slid down her throat and the affects slowly creep to her head. Girty was not a light weight when it came to alcohol, but she was not a very experienced one either and she reached the tipsy stage rather quickly.

When Jac walked over towards her Girty gave an enthusiastic wave and spun around on the bar stool so she could get a better view of Jac. As she put her drink on the table Girty gazed in to have a look at what she was drinking and smirked as she saw it was butterbeer, at least one of the was being sensible, but it sounded more like Jac had been drinking when she started to try and avoid using certain names. Mouthing ‘you…know…what’ to herself Girty’s eyes soon grew wide when she realised what Jac was going on about.

“Oh that you know what. Oh no, I am more here to watch over you know who with his you know what.”

Girty found it rather hard to keep a straight face when she was describing the situation, anyone would think she was completely made and all Girty could hope was that Jac understood what she was going on about.

“But what are you doing here Jac? It looked like you were looking for someone…ooo have you met someone special?”

Girty could no longer hold the laugh in and burst out into a small fit of giggles. There was not much funny about it but everyone in the room just seemed too joyful and happy it was rather addictive and Girty could not help but laugh.

[Jac Shaw]

Jac smiled at Girty as she seemed to be thinking over the question Jac posed but the answer that came was more confusing then any she could have given. Jac frowned but her hair stayed the same colour. Under different conditions, more pressured ones that is, her hair could have changed to a dark grey or even dark purple but it didn't. Jac was learning to control her metamorphing abilities better. She was proud of this but it didn't enter her mind now, she was too busy trying to figure out what Girty was on about.

Jac looked up at Girty, her whole face showing her confusion, and said slowly, "who's what?" She wasn't very articulate about her non-understanding but anyone could have seen how confused she was just by looking at Jac's face. Many did too for many around the pub looked around while they were singing and drinking and certain many saw Jac and Girty sitting together, Jac looking dumbfounded to say the least.

Then Girty asked Jac something she knew a little more on. Shaking off the grogginess brought on by her confusion, Jac wet her mouth with a sip of her butterbeer before answering. "Oh, um," she began slowly, "no. Please, Girt, this is me we're talking about. No. I'm here to meet with my brother, Ed. We're meant to be discussing presents but ..." Jac craned her neck and scanned the room quickly, just to make sure she hadn't missed him, "he's not here yet."

Jac leaned against the hard wood and picked up her butterbeer again. She put it down gently and began to laugh. "Me?" she chuckled, "someone special?" This idea took a while to get home but it was the funniest thing Jac had ever heard. She laughed, her shoulders shook and she rocked back and forth in her chair. She wondered what someone special would be and the picture that was conjured in her head made her laugh harder then before.

[rileybabe]

The pub was packed full and Andie was hustling from table to table taking drink orders, and dealing with grumpy customers. Hearing the bell tinkle she looked up to see Girty and Jac enter, Andie grinned, her first real smile that night as they headed towards the bar, and ordered from Paul one of her co-workers. She was so glad Paul was here tonight. He was a huge help! Andie finished taking orders and wove her way through the crowd to the bar. Slipping behind the bar, she greeted her friends. "Girty, Jac! Hey guys!" she said with a bright smile, smoothing her uniform. "Great to see you two here! I trust Paul's already taken care of you?"

[Girty Hubbles]

Girty could not help but laugh as the confused look upon her friends face, and she could not blame her as she was talking complete rubbish and as she thought back what at what she had said even Girty got confused. With a puzzled gaze at the ceiling hoping it looked almost like it would provide Girty with some sort of answer. But in the end she shrugged her shoulders and looked back at Jac.
“You know I can not even remember what I was going on about in the first place…this stuff is strong.”

Girty looked into her glass before putting it onto the table with a small sigh; she should slow down drinking it as it was clearly going to her head. Although having company would help, and there was not many people the Jac to spend your time with, especially when they started laughing.
Jac seemed to find the idea of her having someone special in her life rather amusing, and if someone had said the same thing to Girty she would have acted a lot like Jac and laughed in their face. So among the giggling Girty found out why her fellow champion was here and it seemed they had another thing in common. They were both waiting for their brothers, although clearly Jac’s was expecting her…Dan was not.
“Another Biggerstall…you mean two of you in the same room. Merlin save us! But then saying that I am expecting…”

Girty was about to relive her little plan to Jac about keeping a close eye on Dan when a familiar voice sounded over towards them. Turning around Girty’s eyes grew wide when she saw Andie walking over towards them with a wide grin. Spinning around on her seat Girty waved at trying to remember when the last time they had spoken and Girty feared it was when she shouted after her while they were in the Hospital wing.

“Good evening…and no Paul has done and terrible job. I do not know why I come here I get nothing but abuse.” Girty had to quickly duck as a table cloth flew towards her, and breaking out into a fit of giggles Girty poked her tongue out at the other bartender before turning her attention back to Andie. “No everything is great thanks Andie….but how about you? It has been a few months now since you last graced me with your presence.”

[Jac Shaw]

Jac leaned on her fist, her cheek pressing up against her nose, and couldn't help but laugh as well. She always forgot what a fun time she had with Girty and made a note to spend more time with her. Confusion seemed to be something they had in common, both when it came to confusing others and confusing themselves. This often happened to Jac but then it was usually on she who was laughing and not with someone else.

"Another Biggerstall, indeed," Jac laughed and took another sip of her butterbeer. It was cool and refreshing and it focused Jac's busy mind on Girty's words. They were interrupted and Jac looked up to see someone she had not seen in a long time. "Andie!" Jac said, pushing herself off the table as she grinned at the old Ravenclaw. It had been ages since Jac had seen Andie and apparently, by Girty's enthusiasm at seeing her, so had Girty. Jac laughed at Girty's display and wondered if it had been emphasised by the potency of the drink that Girty was having. Purple, Jac knew, meant strong. She shook her head and it flashed a deep plum purple.

"Hiya Andie," Jac chirped with a broad smile at Girty as she teased Paul. Jac looked at her tankard and moved to pick it up when a cloth hit her in the face and stayed there. Jac froze. She heard Girty laughing and couldn't help but burst into laughter along with Girty. She dragged the cloth off her face and threw it back to Paul who caught it with an embarrassed smile. "Nice aim," Jac commented with a teasing giggle. Turning back to Girty and Andie, Jac nodded in agreement, "yeah, it's been a while. Been here all along?"

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dan had always spoken about getting out of the castle together, away from the pressure and the work and just being together and enjoying each other's company. So Dia and Dan often came to Hogsmeade together. It wasn't as far as Dia knew Dan wanted it but for the most part it worked wonders for them. They got to relax and see the village as they had never seen it before: with shades of love. Dia always thought that the dingy little village looked alive and full of life and colour when she was with Dan and enjoyed going there with him.

On this particular evening, Dan and Dia had arranged to meet at Hogsmeade in stead of going there together as they usually did. They both had marking to do but agreed on a time to meet. It had been Dia's own personal dead line and she had met it, actually she had finished half and hour before the time. She decided to take the opportunity to make her way down and get to The Three Broomsticks early to secure them a table, talk to people she often saw there, or whatever turned up. Moving swiftly in her thick coat, Dia made her way to Hogsmeade and towards The Three Broomsticks.

She pushed the door open and was greeted with a wave of heat and the strong smell of alcohol. Walking in, Dia quickly closed the door behind her. Unbuttoning her coat, Dia looked around. She did not see Dan but did spot Girty, Jac and Andie. At least she knew someone, she thought happily, hanging her coat. Straightening her deep burgundy jersey and made her way to where the girls were sitting. "Evening, ladies," she said cheerfully, flicking her hair carelessly over her shoulder, "may I join you for a while?"

[Girty Hubbles]

Greetings were always nice, simple things the small hello, making sure everything is all right in the world but then you never expect to get further then that. Particularly when one of those people you where talking with worked in the pub. So as Andie and Jac started to talk Girty’s attention wavered and she started to look around the pub, humming a small tune to herself and taking another swig of her drink.

But as she looked around the pub someone entered and her eyes grew wide. The first part of her target had wondered into the pub. Although Girty was rather surprised to not see Dia on the arm of Dan, they must have come down separately. Trying not to look like she was staring at her Astronomy professor Girty turned back to look at Jac and began to hum her little tune again, taking another mouthful of her drink.

Feeling the liquid burn as it slid down her throat Girty gave a small wave as Dia wondered over and asked if she could join Girty pulled out her wand and summoned over another stall for her to sit on.
“Professor Owen what a pleasant surprise, I did not expect to see you here tonight.” Girty gave her a rather cheesy grin and carried on drinking her drink, waiting for Dia to join them at the table.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

A chair appeared for Dia and she smiled gratefully at Girty, who had conjured it. It was a thoughtful move on her count and Dia sat on it graciously, crossing her jeaned legs slowly. Dia looked around the group and noticed a number of things that were never clear in her class, that she would ever have guessed these young ladies capable of. Girty had a drink in front of her, presumably an alcoholic drink, Jac stuck to the kiddie stuff and Andie was dressed like she was waiting on them. Dia smiled warmly at Andie when she realised Andie was there to wait on them.

Dia was about to ask for a drink when it occurred to her how strange it was to be asking an old student of hers for a drink. Soon she realised that Jac and Andie were talking so she hoped up off the chair and went to where Paul was cleaning a glass. A moment later Dia returned with a long slender glass of wine a deeper red then her jersey and she rejoined the girls. Dia, though always friendly and open, felt awkward in the present company. She was not sure why so sipped her wine thoughtfully.

After a moment's silence, Dia decided to be brave and make the first move. She cleared her throat and set her glass on the counter before her and smiled up at Girty. "So, Girty, Jac, Andie," Dia said, hiding her shaking voice well, "what brings you all here?" She didn't want to be too forward and talk only to Girty because she was certain that would be rude but she wanted to get the girls talking. Dia knew that as soon as you got girls talking, it was hard to stop them.

[rileybabe]

Andie had drifted off in her own little world, and looked up slightly startled as Professor Owen addressed her and the others. "Oh! Professor, you startled me!" She smiled warmly, "Well unfortunately for me, unlike my friends here, I'm working instead of relaxing!" She sighed, "In fact, I should probably get back to work before my customers get angry."

Just as she said that an impatient and very rude man snapped his fingers and whistled to get her attention, "Hey! You gonna get me a drink or not?" he grumbled. Andie immediately stiffened, her emerald eyes flashed with anger, her mouth pressed into a tight line as she slowly turned to glare at the man. He blanched and fell silent, turning back to her friends, she smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry, I have rude customers to deal with." The man called again, "Hey you! I'm still waiting!"

Andie was now seething. She was Andrea Maddalena Riley for Merlin's sake! Daughter of one of the most famous dancers in both the Muggle and the Wizard world. She refused to be addressed like some cheap, sleazy waitress at the Hog's Head. Whipping around she glared daggers at the man, "I am coming, if you would just be patient!" She hissed angrily stalking towards him.

[Girty Hubbles]

Girty watched Professor Owen as she walked back with a drink in hand, a elegant glass of red wine and she sat back down on the stool that Girty had just summoned for her. It was hard for the Hufflepuff not to laugh when she noticed the drink she had in hand, she had to bite her tongue to stop her from coming up with a jovial comment asking if it was Italian made and of a good age. Girty had heard all about Dia and Dan meting in the Kitchens and the amount of red wine that had been consumed.
But even with a alcohol in her blood system with not stupid enough to mention this, if Dia knew that Dan told her everything the trust in there relationship might not be as stable. So instead Girty kept her comments to herself and laughed into the bottom of her glass as the last dregs of the purple liquid slid down her throat.

Girty was about to answer the Professors question when Andie got there first. With a small laugh she put her glass on the table and gave a small bow. The feeling of being able to do what ever she wanted was nice, being able to talk to her friends with out interruption, such as the one Andie was getting now. With a frown Girty looked over at the person who seemed to be causing all the trouble and watched closely as her red haired friend walked over and started to give him a piece of her mind.
Bursting into hysterics Girty started whooping and jeering. “Go Andie, Go Andie, Go Andie!”

She knew she was getting a few looks from the other people in the pub but she did care, as long as she was having a good time she did not mind. After claming down a bit and she managed to stop giggling Girty reached for her drink only to be disappointed when she remembered she had finished it.
Sticking out her lower lip in a mini pout Girty looked up at Professor Owen and grinned at her, trying to look innocent but knowing that she could pull it off as well as she could do with Dan.

“What are you doing here then Professor? Why is my love struck brother not with you.”

[Jac Shaw]

Jac was clearly the only one who was surprised to see Professor Owen in The Three Broomsticks. Jac began to choke and cough on her sip of butterbeer when she joined them. She was unaccustomed to having teachers drink with her and a few friends but she didn't say anything, she couldn't. Coughing more, Jac hit her chest in the hope that it would dislodge whatever was prohibiting her breathing. She looked up at Andie as she left, tried to smile but more smirked at her with streaming eyes as she past.

Jac picked up her tankard and took a long sip, hoping that would help. It didn't. The itching and scratching in her throat were only made worse by the butterbeer. Jac left the table and went to the bar where Paul was. "Paul ..." she coughed, "water!" Cough, cough, cough, "please." Paul frowned at the little red head but gave her the glass of water she asked for quickly. She drained it in less then a breath before slowly putting the glass back in Paul's hand. "Thanks," she sighed with a smile on her face.

Rejoining Girty and Prof Owen, Jac was just in time to head Girty's question. It puzzled her, Girty's question and Jac frowned at her. Why would Girty put Prof Owen and Prof Hubbles in the same boat like she did. "What are you going on about, Girt?" Jac demanded, "make sense." She didn't know what had gotten into Girty lately but it was peculiar. "Why would Hubbles be with Prof... Jac trailed off when she looked to the professor.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia watched Andie go to the aggressive customer but her vision soon fell on Jac. She frowned as Jac began to cough and cough and cough. She lowered her wine glass, setting it on the table, and slowly reached out a hand to pat her on the back but the Gryffindor was up and at the bar before Dia could so much as offer. She looked to Girty and frowned, questioningly. "What do you suppose that was all about?" Dia asked more to herself then any other.

Upon hearing Girty's question, Dia's eye brow flew up. It was curious that Girty should ask where Dan was when she had just been thinking the same thing. Relaxing and reaching for her wine glass again, Dia shrugged. "We are supposed to be meeting her," she said simply, "I had marking to do and I wasn't sure how long it would take and I didn't want Dan hanging about the castle waiting for me so I said I'd meet him here. He should be here soon. I finished earlier then I told him I should."

Jac came back and seemed shocked about something. Dia smiled kindly, before looking back to Girty. "She doesn't know, does she?" She gave a light giggle before sipping her wine. "Dan and I are together." It was another simple, straight forward answer and Dia smiled kindly at Jac. "I'm surprised Girty hasn't told you all about me stealing Dan away for the holiday and about how she misses him while we're together. He never stops going on about how much he misses you, Girty. I wonder sometimes if I should just tell him to forget about me for an evening and spend it with you."

[Girty Hubbles]

“I wish you would.” Girty mumbled to herself folding her arms in defiance as she continued to just stare at her empty glass, not wanting to even look at Dia or even Jac. Girty was not one to lie about things like this, she was not one to lie full stop. So naturally it would be a lie to say she did not miss Dan, she did. If you spend so much time with someone only for it to be taken away by someone else you find it hard to build up a new routine and not to resent the other person.

This is not to say that Girt did not like Professor Owen, she did but not as much as Dan thought she did. Girty always saw Dia as a kind and caring person, someone who she could talk to and laugh with but then Girty could be rather selfish. This was a time when she needed Dan just for company and moral support, but he would rather be looking at the stars with Dia.

“I must admit Professor Owen, I am not the one who has been shouting about you and Dan from the castle roof tops. I thought there was no need as half the castle seemed to know, but clearly it was just the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. And you know what I do not know how you and Dan cope, I constantly get asked about it and I am not really going to tell any person who comes up and asks me.”

Girty stopped herself from breaking into a full scale rant about it all, so instead she gave a small huff and slipped off her stool and headed towards the bar to get another drink, maybe something a tad stronger. But as she stood at the bar waiting to be served, tapping her figures on the counter, her eyes landed on someone sitting in the corner and straight away a smile filled her face. Sitting by one of the overly decorated Christmas trees was Simon and Girty could not help but give him a small wave, and much to her own enjoyment he waved back.

“Miss Hubbles?”
The voice of Paul forced Girty to turn around and take her eyes away from her rouge wizard. “Erm…sorry…can I have another drink please. But best make it a single, I have Quidditch practise first thing in the morning.”

With a drink in hand Girty wondered back to were Jac and Professor Owen was sitting, and slid back onto her stool although her gaze flickered towards Simon for a brief second before returning back to the two ladies she was sitting with.