[Puddifoots] Strawberry Tea

[Loren Hayes]

Loren blew gently on the surface of her strawberry tea, the steam ceasing for a moment before coiling back up into the air. She would obviously have to wait a little longer for it to cool, and so set it back down on its pretty floral saucer with a little tinkle. It was four in the afternoon and Madam Puddifoots was all but empty, only the occasional couple of extravagantly dressed lonely old woman scattered about thinly. The spring sun was passing gently through the windows, and Loren had been sat at her table by the front bay window for some time, watching the light's progress across her teapot and table cloth.

She was very lonely. All her usual friends were either doing homework in the common room or were in the library attending one of the many Ravenclaw spell book clubs, and so she had been abandoned to entertain herself. Usually she would have chosen to have a pint of butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks but today there were far too many rowdy warlocks in there that she did not wish to face, and so had been forced to the little tea shop for a weak, none alcoholic drink.

Sighing loudly Loren leaned back in her chair, thinking longingly of playful duels and exploding snap.

[Dax Simmons]

The sun was getting lower in the sky and was shinning right into the eyes of Dax. It had got to the point in which that his eyes became to water and all he could see was a white light. He squinted helplessly raising his hand to shade his eyes from the sun. In a moment of pure desperation he stumbled closer to a door and pushed it open.

As he stepped inside a sweet smell reached his nose. Slowly his eyes came back into focus and he realised he was in a teashop. He let out rather loud groan which attracted the attention of many of the single women around the room. One in the corner began to give him a very weird smile and was signalling for him to join her.

In pure panic Dax’s gaze fell on a Hogwarts student sitting at a table just in front of him. With a small smile he pointed the girl out to the women and gave her a weak smile before rushing over to the empty seat. Dax quickly pulled the chair out from under the table and sat down opposite the Ravenclaw girl.

“So sorry I’m late.” He said a bit louder then he would normally simply to make people believe that he was with this girl.

[Loren Hayes]

Outside someone had caught Loren's attention. A tall boy was walking along the street, his expression vexed as he tried in vain to keep the glaring sun out of his eyes. Something glinted on the front of his robes, and Loren saw that it was the golden Hufflepuff badger. He was obviously a Hogwarts student.

He suddenly turned and walk abruptly into the teashop, and Loren smirked, entertained as he groaned loudly at the realisation of where he was. Several people looked up hopefully - perhaps those waiting for their significant other - and a particularly skinny, wrinkled old woman gave him a very suggestive smile.

Loren gave a small laugh. The boy looked at her suddenly, and without a moments hesitation he dived into the rickety little chair opposite her. He was smiling broadly, though his eyes were full of desperate pleading. 'Oh? Oh! Erm... don't worry about it, er, dear. I haven't been here too long.' she replied equally loudly, looking directly at the woman who gave a rather disgruntled huff.

'I expect you'll be even later for wherever you were meant to be now,' she said quietly, leaning forward with a sagely smile. 'Strawberry tea, dear?'

[Dax Simmons]

As Dax looked at the girl he smiled at her again hopelessly trying to act along. He could not believe he was helping him like this. It was only when she started to mention the latter parts that he started to become more aware that she may not be happy with him dropping in.

“On no on the contrary my darling. I cancelled everything simply so I could be with you.” He gave her a cheeky smile and leaned closer to her and dropped into a whisper.
“Some Strawberry tea would be wonderful”

With a small laugh he looked around the room and actually at the table where he sat. The frilly table cloths and curtains were already getting on his nervous but as his gaze fell onto the china cups his face filled with a smile. They were so fancy and the teashop itself was nice a quite, I good conversation could be started in this room. As he thought he saw a couple walk into the tea shop hand in hand. The boy pulled out the chair and the girl sat on it giggling her head off. He could tell that his face was now one showing total displeasure of the sight of the other two students.

“Maybe we are not that convincing as a couple.” He laughed as he looked back at the Ravenclaw girl.

[Loren Hayes]

'Oh I wouldn't worry about that,' Loren said as she picked up the pink teapot, tipping it gently and watching the pinkish brown liquid splash handsomely into a spare cup. 'There are other kinds of couples asides from brainless girls and smug boys,' set set down the teapot rather more forcefully than was necessary. Several people stopped talking and looked at her questioningly. She simply gave a hollow smile and stared, warning them with her eyes to keep the noise at the level it was currently at. She gave a particularly hard glance at the giggling girl who had just entered.

She looked back at the Hufflepuff with an amused smile. 'Well, since you'll be staying a while, what should I call you other than dear?' she picked up her cup and sipped carefully. It was at last cool enough, and she gulped down a little with mirth.

[Dax Simmons]

Dax smiled at the girl as she slammed down the tea pot and started to talking to him again.
“Well I prefer Dear to be honest, much more personal.”

He picked up the china cup carefully with his little figure sticking out as he sipped the tea. As the liquid reached his tongue he pulled a face as the super sweet drink flowed down his throat. Carefully he put the cup back onto the saucer and coughed.

“Wow you do have a sweet tooth. They should sell that in some pubs, it has a kick to it”
He dug his hand into his coat pocket and pulled out a handful off betibotts bits and threw them into his mouth. As he chewed on them he looked at the Ravenclaw girl and smiled. After he swallowed the sweets he thought he best answer the question as in fact he did not even know her name.

“I’m Dax. And you are?”

[Loren Hayes]

'Loren,' she replied matter-a-factly, also taking another sip of the tea. 'Yes, it is a bit powerful.' she confessed, swirling the contents of the cup at little as she peered into it with scrutiny. 'Fortunately I'm well trained in the food and drink department,' she smirked, patting her stomach proudly. Loren was forever on journeys back and forth to the kitchens, her mind always set on meat pies and fruit puddings. Neither of her parents were very good cooks and Loren took every meal she had at Hogwarts very seriously.

'Well then, Dax - if that is your real name -' she said in mock accusation before laughing. 'What brings you to Hogsmede on this dreary day? Friendless too?' she asked with a touch of bitterness. Loren despised having nothing to do.

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace had been sitting alone fore the past tweo hours. She had been waiting for Bog but he had not come. She watched Dax come into Honeydukes and sit witha very pretty ravenclaw. She was so jealous that the ravenclaws guy had actually shown up. Grace was lying on the table a table away from Dax and the ravenclaw she now knew to be named Loren. She waved at Dax to get his attention. "Hi," she mouthed.

[Dax Simmons]

Dax was rather offended that Loren did not believe that it was his real name. He huffed loudly and folded his arms, giving Loren a sideways glance. When she continued to ask about why he was around by himself he started to get rather angry.

“I was not down here by myself. I was with my friends and..” He broke off from his ranting when he heard his name called from across the room.
“Look there is one of my friends now.”

Dax waved back at Grace and beckoned her over to join them. He pulled around another chair for her to sit on.

“What are you doing down here then without any other Ravenclaw.” Dax asked feeling rather cheeky and to back it up he put his best grin.

[Loren Hayes]

Loren huffed. 'Touchy!' she replied, folding her arms and raising an eyebrow at him.

The Hufflepuff suddenly beckoned across the little room for someone to join them, and Loren looked about to see a blonde girl sitting a few tables away, waving at Dax with a happy smile on her face. Loren sighed inwardly, once again the odd one out and without any of her own company. Although it was everyone else who had joined her table, she was suddenly feeling like an intruder. 'You know the typical Ravenclaw,' Loren said, watching Grace begin to get up, sending her a warm smile. 'Can't pull their noses from their books...'

Loren placed another cup in front of the third chair, pouring yet more strawberry tea. She hoped this new girl liked her drinks sweet.

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace smiled as Dax beckoned her over. She felt intusive but joined him anyway. "Hi," she said quietly, "sorry if I'm interupting anything. It's just that-" she looked to the door and sighed "-Bog was supposed to be here two hours ago and he hasn't come." She sighed again before pulling herself towards herself and smiled at the ravenclaw. "Hi," she held out her hand, "I'm Grace."

[Loren Hayes]

Loren listened carefully and wondered who "Bog" was. She found it an immensely odd name. She took Grace's hand and shook it appreciatively, gesturing to the chair as she did so. 'I'm Loren,' she replied. 'Is Bog your boyfriend?' she asked knowingly. It could be the only likelihood. It was Madam Puddifoots after all, and even the most loyal of boys would stand up their girlfriends here. Loren for one knew how that felt.

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace smiled. Then she nodded. "Yeah," she admitted in a whisper, "he is. But he's late as usual. I'd be surprised if her comes at all." Grace sighed then realised she was beigh pathetically jealous. "I'm sorry," she said sadly, "life here at Hogwarts can be hectic and we're both very busy and I haven't seen him in ages." Grace felt self concious, intruding like she was.

[Loren Hayes]

Loren held up a hand in understanding. 'I know exactly what you mean,' she said, leaving it at that.

Refilling her cup Loren took a chance to give Grace the once over. She was a very pretty girl, her golden hair suiting her Hufflepuff robes perfectly. After a few more moments of staring Loren suddenly realised that she knew exactly who Grace was. 'Wait - Hufflepuff captain and keeper if I'm not mistaken?' she said, snapping her fingers and pointing sharply at the Hufflepuff girl. 'I should have known. Merlin, I really need to revise my team knowledge,' she sighed, scolding herself mentally. 'It's not official yet, but I've been trying out for chaser.'

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace smiled, honestly slightly shocked that Loren regognized her purely by reputation. She nodded in confirmation of what Loren had said. "It's good to know your opposition," Grace randomly said, though she was sure Loren and Dax already knew that. Grace smiled sheepishly.