Chapter 210 - Christmas Shopping

Two weeks before the end of the term, the sky finally delivered its promise on snow. The grounds were turned into a dazzling, opaline white as the rest of the ground had long since been covered in frozen frost. Inside the castle, Professor Flitwick had decorated both of his classrooms with shimmering lights that turned out to be real, fluttering fairies. Rowan, of course, hated the nasty sharp-toothed buggers and sat as far as away as possible from them whenever she could.

The students were all happily discussing their plans for the holidays. But this year unlike the year before the 5th and 7th years were not about to partake in the merry festivities. They had weeks of extra studying to cram into the two weeks left before winter break. And this year, unlike the years before they might actually pop a book open to study during the winter break. Needless to say, more than one parent would be left astonished by the bizarre miracle.

To everyone's delight the next Hogsmeade trip was finally announced to be held the last weekend of the term. Even Rowan was excited as she could get her, Christmas shopping done and not have her grandfather and grandmother do the shopping for her. She wasn't the only one as more than one student wrote down a list and checked it twice, before putting it away for use later.

On that Saturday morning as usual, Rowan was the first out at the front entrance as snow began to lightly fall again. And not to her surprise, she found a rosy cheeked James smiling at her side. "I thought since I was turned down, I might as well make it a date with you, Rowan," James teased as they waited for the first carriage to pull up in front of them.

Rowan loudly snorted and said, "I won't be anyone's sloppy seconds, Potter. You had your chance with me and blew it."

James chuckled at Rowan's playful antics as a faint smile appeared on her face as her eyes danced with mirth. "Ah, but I'm a Gryffindor! And we don't ever give up!" James teased back.

"I've noticed," Rowan drily said as the first carriage could be seen trotting up the path towards them.

"What an adorable couple," a sexy voice was heard from behind them saying.

They both whirled around to see the curved, luscious witch with dark hair and cocoa colored skin pressing her ample chest into Wilkes arm. "A Gryffindor and Slytherin dating, my, my aren't the two of you a daring couple?" Said, Jezebel, Wilkes paramour.

Not one to take it lying down, James reaches over for Rowan's hand and gives her a wink to play along. "Well, she's my snake," James cooed. "And I won't let anyone else have her."

"Oh, yes," Rowan sarcastically added. "And he's my lion." Before the both of their faces burst into laughter the carriage thankfully arrives and without so much as a goodbye they jumped inside. The minute the carriage door was shut, they both burst into laughter as they hugged their sides in laughter.

Wheezing, James says, "Did you see her face?!"

"I thought she was going to throw up," Rowan breathlessly gasped as she wiped the moisture from her eyes with a gloved hand.

"It was worth it," James said with satisfaction as he leaned back into his seat. "But you do know the rumors will be all over Hogwarts by the end of the day."

"Well according to Bertha Jorkins, I've had several romantic affairs," Rowan snickered. "You'll only be the latest of my paramour to be so cruelly dumped."

James let out a huff and pouts. "What makes her think, I wouldn't dump you first?"

"As I've said, I've had several romantic affairs already," Rowan drily repeated again.

The rest of the ride they chatter about nonsensical things as the carriage rolled to a stop and they paused to stare at the village of Hogsmeade below. Hogsmeade looked like a Christmas card, the little thatched cottages and shops were all covered in a layer of crisp snow; there were holly wreaths on the doors and strings of enchanted candles hanging from the trees. And with the touch of light falling snow Hogsmeade looked straight out of a storybook.

James was first to break the enchanting spell as he says, "C'mon now." The two of them tromped across the newly fallen snow taking some delight in leaving the first footsteps in the pristine untouched snow. Much like before the streets were largely empty until exactly at the hour as they reached the first row of cottages, the shops opened, and the residents of the village burst out into the streets.

Like the time before they were the first to enter Honeydukes. Faintly recognizing from the time before, the starting to bald owner says, "Welcome to Honeydukes!" Before hurrying into the back as the hordes must not be far away.

With quick precision unlike the time before, Rowan selected a variety of chocolate bars for herself, before selecting the favorites of others. Making a face, she gathered Fizzing Wizbees, Pepper Imp's, Toothfloosing Stringmints, Ice Mice, and other such magical treats. With regular sweets thrown into the mix. Satisfied she had something for Dirk, Letitia, and Bart, she returned with her purchases and neatly placed them on the counter.

Clearly remembering her for her neatness, the owner says, "Thank you, child." And with a beaming smile, he totals the items for her and adds a small box of vanilla sweets into her brown bag. Giving her a wink, he makes a shushing sound as Rowan nods her head in understanding and thanks.

"I'll see you later, James," Rowan called out to James who was buying a third of the store by the looks of it. James merely motioned at her half-heartedly as he clearly wasn't listening. Much too occupied with choosing his sweets, James didn't even notice until later when he went to ask her a question to find that she was already long gone.