Carpe Diem Closed

Sorry I'm so late to this. I'm getting a little fuzzy on the timeline with the other events, so I'm writing it in beginning-of-year-Clifton's mindset.

"Sounds like my kind of place," Clifton grinned. He glanced back up at the steep slide. "Besides, even if we get in trouble, I think sugarquills or whatever sound a lot safer than the knights of the round table."

"C'mon," he smiled at his friends. "Let's go."

He led them forward, making a point to keep a hold of Alina's hand. He couldn't really put words into why. Honestly, up until this point in his life girls really hadn't even been on his radar, so there were still moments when he felt like he was making it up as he went.

This was one of those. He had sensed Alina hesitate a little in answering Alexa. But he didn't have the know-how yet to understand why. Just the hunch that it'd be a wise decision to reassure her.

"I think the...whatever we fell through must've cut the walking short." He said. "Because I doubt they'd let a candy store like that be this close to the school. Our common room has enough sugar to get the whole house through an all-nighter as it is." He wondered how long it would take to walk back the normal way.

Adventuring with @Alina Rosier, @Clifton Troublefield, and @Lindsey Springhall

I am so terribly sorry for the delay! RL has been keeping me busy, but I will do better in the future with my responses! Sorry again!

After Alina answered her question, Alexa saw a shadow across the other girl’s face. But it was quickly put away as Alina continued her explanation. Alexa barely had time to wonder about it, but stored it in the back of her mind to think about later.

Alexa looked around the storeroom again with new eyes, seeing crates with words stamped on the sides like “Sugar Quills,” and “Exploding Bonbons,” two of the many candies Alina had just mentioned. She couldn’t imagine how some of these candies could work, could exist, but then reminded herself that magic permeated everything in this world; why not the candies as well? Her curiosity piqued, she couldn’t wait for the chance to try several of them!

She glanced up the steps that seem to lead to the shop but above. Not a rule-breaker usually, but definitely an explorer at heart, she wanted to climb the steps and see what was above them, but she was also nervous. What kind of trouble might they get into, sneaking out of the castle like this?

She saw Clifton take Alina by the hand, before calling them all to come with him. She thought back to the shadow she had seen across Alina’s face. Did it have to do with Clifton? Surely not. He was just a friend, though a very good one. She knew that they liked each other, and while she liked them both as friends, she felt nothing more than that. Alexa wondered if she should tell Alina this, but felt hesitant, especially in front of the others. Maybe later, she thought.

“I’ll follow you guys,” she said, smiling slightly, practically quivering with excitement.

Alina had never been to Hogsmeade, and she imagined it being a quaint little town that was full of shops with owners that had to like kids...after all, it was most Hogwarts students that kept their businesses going, right? So if they did sneak upstairs and encounter someone, surely it wouldn't mean the death of four young Hufflepuffs.

"Okay," she said, stepping up the stairs. There hadn't been a bell for some time which meant there weren't a lot of customers coming and going from the store and that was good news. She crept slowly up the stairs, careful not to place all her weight down at once in case part of the staircase creaked. So far, so good.

They made it to the top of the stairs where there was a door and she took hold of the knob and slowly turned it. Of course it locked from the other side so it didn't interfere with them getting out and she slowly opened it, just ever so slightly.

And then she paused, trying to see what she could see out the small crack that she allowed herself. There were bright colors and candies of every kind! The store seemed rather empty too during that time of day. Empty and quiet.

The silence was broken by a voice coming from an older gentleman. "Hey! Hey now!" the man called out and Alina drew back instinctively and looked to the others with wide eyes. But then shuffled by an older woman muttering, "calm down, old man. I'm coming. I'm coming!" She came over to where he was in the corner, standing on a ladder and helped to hand up some inventory. It was Ambrosius Flume, owner of Honeydukes, and his wife. They lived above the store in a flat and this was their time of day to restock. Alina breathed a sigh of relief realizing the man wasn't talking to them and knew this had to be their moment to escape while both of their backs were turned and they were occupied with their store. She opened the door wider. Stopped. Then wider still. "Let's go," she mouthed, saying no sound at all.

Clifton followed with the rest of the group as they silently hurried through the doorway and across the room. The floor creaked once, causing all of them to suck in a breath and stop. Thankfully, one of the stock crates nearly slipped, distracting the shop owners, so they successfully hurried the rest of the way.

Clifton wasn't sure if they were still here for the candy or simply for the adventure, but he was content with either. Though four eleven-year-old's this far from school would need a good story if they were caught. He began to brainstorm just in case.

The jars of candy made his mouth water. Even though he was sure that some of them had all sorts of fun surprises, like the bonbons he'd popped in his mouth on his first night at Hogwarts. Only to end up practically choking on them as they exploded in his mouth. It seemed like magic candy was a lot like those fancy boxes of chocolates, expect they didn't come with a guide telling you which ones were nutty.

He looked at each of his friends, trying to decide what they should do now. After all, they were four rule-breaking kids standing in an unsupervised candy shop so the answer seemed obvious. Except that they were four rule-breaking Hufflepuffs standing in an unsupervised candy shop. As much as they liked the adventure--and sweets-- he wasn't sure if either of them were up for stuffing their pockets full. Not unless they left money on the counter or something.

Alina seemed to pick up on his reaction, whether because she was thinking the same or because she was starting to know Clifton just that well. She grinned and then hurried over to the door, pulling it open abruptly to allow the bell to sing loudly for the two shopkeepers to hear. "Evening!" she then called out as if the four had just entered. The man on the ladder turned to see them and offered up a kind smile. Again, no shopkeeper in Hogsmeade could rightfully hate children since that was their main customers.

"A right nice evening to you, as well, lass," he said with a smile and came down to help his wife with the crate that had fallen over. Alina smiled to her friends and then began to riffle through her bag as the man came to his wife's assistance and spoke to them again, "let me know if I can be of any assistance!"

She then found what she was looking for and pulled out a small little zippered sort of pouch. She opened it, and pulled out a decent amount of currency to show her friends. Charles Rosier wouldn't send his daughters off to school without money. Why, money talked. Money got you things you needed. Money got you things you wanted. Money could be power. In this case...money could be candy!

"It's on me today, friends," Alina said and placed that pouch back into her bag. Her and the others were now freely able to explore this wonderland before them.

There was every candy you could think of - every candy anyone could think of. There was the very basic of chocolate to the wildest of creations and it was all before them.

Adventuring with @Alina Rosier @Alexa Mackenzie and @Lindsey Springhall

Or that.

Clifton was surprised at the owner's kindness. And at Alina's generosity. His eyes widened at the amount of coinage in the pouch she'd brought, but it made sense from what she'd told him about her home. He'd been raised to politely turn down offers like that, but it didn't seem like those kind of manners fit when she was offering it to the whole group.

"Fine," he smiled, approaching the dazzling rainbow of candy selections. "But don't let me forget that I owe you one."

Clifton purposefully avoided the chocolate frogs after the last incident. And the exploding bonbons since he'd nearly choked on the last ones. He wasn't so sure about the Bertie Botts after he and a roommate had braved a few the other night. Instead, he grabbed a licorice wand and, of course, some of the sour lemon candies that he was starting to really like.

He was more interested in just looking at it all. The creativity in the names and the colors--not to mention the magical effects--was just the sort of thing his curious mind could puzzle at all day. The reality that every nook and cranny of the magical world, including it's candy shops, held some secret or history was quickly becoming his favorite part of being a wizard.

Interacting with @Alina Rosier @Alexa Mackenzie @Clifton Troublefield

Sorry for this late reply!

So they are at Hogsmeade now?! Lindsey wondered, couldn’t believe the fact.
Her brother Edmund had only become a third year this year and he had described how fascinating the candies were. He had taken a few for Lindsey and…well, it was truly fascinating.
“Remember that I owe you Alina!” Lindsey said, as Alina generously afford all of the candies. “Well, let’s have an end of year party when it’s June and I’ll deal with everything——especially the food part!” she smiled.
That seemed like a good idea. She didn’t know whether there would be an end of year party——at least, there was one in the muggle primary school she was sent to when she was young. The friendly teachers organized games, toys (yeah, they did prepare toys) and performances when the children made their mouths full of candies and chocolate bars. Although she could not say anything about magic there, it was an experience.
“Especially candies from Hogsmeade——I could get access of them from my brother.” Lindsey added, while approaching a bar of sour chocolate——their new type, that was.
Special kinds of candies——this might be one of the best part of being a witch.

Alexa followed behind the group as Alina slowly opened the door a crack. She looked back at them with surprise when she heard voices on the other side. Alexa’s eyes widened; she hadn’t been able to hear what was said, but if that sounded like an exclamation. But then someone answered and shuffled past the door, and everyone relaxed. Alina slowly opened the door and mouthed “Let’s go,” and they all quickly snuck into the shop through the door.

Being the last up the stairs, Alexa quietly closed the door behind them, and looked around in awe. The shop was completely full of jars and containers of brightly colored candy of seemingly every kind imaginable, and some kinds more than imaginable. Her eyes feasted on the shop as Alina approached the front door and made the bell ring as though they had just come in. The shopkeeper smiled at them all and spoke with her, and then Alina dug in her clothes and pulled out a small pouch, before telling them that everything was on her today! “Thank you so much!” Alexa said to the girl, smiling. This was really kind of her, especially considering that Alexa and perhaps the others had no money with them. When Clifton and Lindsey said that they owed her, Alexa nodded heartily in agreement.

Then before they could even take a look at the shelves, Lindsey was suggesting an end-of-the-year party. Alexa grinned at her. “That sounds like a great idea! I’m sure we can all pitch in somehow!”

Then it was time to look around the shop and choose their candy. Alexa wandered over to some bins on the ground, looking inside. She saw the label, and recoiled slightly. “Cockroach Clusters!” She turned to Alina. “Can you imagine?” She grimaced but then giggled.

In the end, Alexa picked out some mouthwatering toffee, some chocolate, and something called a Fizzing Whizzbee, which looked to be fun. It was a large sherbet ball that promised to make her float off the ground when she sucked on it! She was excited to try it.

She went up to Alina and showed her her choices. “Is this too much?” She asked quietly. She didn’t want to push her friend financially! But she didn’t know how much was too much, so she figured she would ask.

"I'm ALWAYS up for a party, Linds! And no...Not too much at all," Alina said, not having had any opportunity to really spend any of the money her father had given her anyhow and she was glad to share it with friends. She picked out some of her own candies and brought it to the register for the man to ring up. "You've got the loveliest of shops, Sir," she complimented the man although he already knew it was a Hogsmeade favorite of the Hogwarts students. He thanked her and thanked them all for stopping in, welcoming them back any time.

The four Hufflepuffs left the store through the front door, knowing the other way wasn't an option. "So...do we explore a bit more or head back to school?" she asked, wanting their opinions. If it were up to her, she'd go look around at some of the other stores, even if just through their store front windows, but soon it would be growing late and the sun would be setting and she wasn't sure if they'd have to walk near the Forbidden Forest or not to get back, nor how long it would take for the journey. Maybe it was best to be heading back.

She popped a drooble in her mouth as she sat down on a bench along the main street, placing the other items she purchased into her bag. "We should totally do this again sometime..." she smiled to the others, kicking her feet a little as she sat there.

Alexa smiled in gratitude at Alina for purchasing her choices of candy. While the other girl was at the register, conversing with the shopkeeper after paying, Alexa broke into a piece of toffee and put it in her mouth. It seemed to melt there, so soft! Yes, this was a very good candy shop!

She followed the rest of the crew out the front door, glancing back surreptitiously at the basement door behind the counter. No way they were getting back that way.

Outside, the sun was beginning its descent, but there would still be several hours of daylight left. When Alina asked what they should do, Alexa was torn. She wanted to explore the town more, but at the same time she was aware that they must have broken numerous rules in being here, and she didn’t want to get into trouble. Also, she didn’t know how long it would take to walk back up to the castle from here.

“I really can’t decide… I think we should go back, but I want to stay… Maybe we should just check out one more shop!” She ended, hopefully. Surely one more shop couldn’t hurt with this much daylight left. They were already here, why not take advantage of it? These were the things she told herself in order to convince herself that it was okay to stay, even for a little while.