HOGSMEADE: Pieces coming together -- November 1997 (DONE)

There was still no word that Sirius had changed.  I tried to be there for Dean, but he said he didn't need it.  He did, however, ask me to be in his wedding.  At least he kept his life moving forward instead of waiting around for something that -- unfortunately -- may never happen.  It was mid-November and I was at Hogsmeade.  I just got finished in the suit shop there with Dena and Harry.   Harry had to meet up with Ron and Hermione and Dean apologetically said he had to meet up ith Addison to confirm we got the suits.  I didn't necessarily mind.  I went into The Three Broomsticks to get warmedup before walking back to the castle.

Why did it have to be so cold out?  It was only November!  I walked into The Three Broomsticks and sw how crowded it was.  Of course... it only felt like it was 10 degrees outside.  I sighed and soon started taking off my hat, gloves, and scarf due to how warm it was getting.  I got a little irritated when people started to jostle me around.  I slammed into the student in front of me.  "Oh, I am so sorry," I said quickly.  How embarrassing...

I felt poeple jostling and turned when I heard the girl behind me apologize.  "Oh don't worry about it," I told her.  It wasn't her fault everyone was being extremely rude and bumping into everyone and stuff.  "At least you didn't already have your beverage," I added, seeing the brighter side of things.

At least he was nice about it.  I laughed a little bit.  "Well, yeah, that is a good thing," I agreed.  I would have felt so much worse.  WE moved in line and we both ended up getting our drinks.  I finally placed hwo he was -- Jetty Pettigrew.  We really didn't talk anymore until someone else bumped into me and I dropped my butterbeer.  At least it was just on the ground and not on someone.  "Great," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

I had gotten my drink in a to-go cup and turned in time to see Stephanie drop hers on the ground.  I shook my head and was thinking that she was not having a good day.  As she cleaned up her mess the best she could, I had gotten a butterbeer to-go for her.  When she turned from the trash I made sure I was enough away from her that neither one of us wore our drinks.  "Here," I said, handing her a cup.  "I heard what you had ordered... and saw that you had a mishap with your first cup."  I smiled as she seemed slightly... I couldn't really describe it.

I just stared at him.  He was in Slytherin... but he was being nice.  I couldn't believe it.  "Oh, thanks!  Here... let me pay you back," I said, reaching for my purse instead of the cup.

I rolled my eyes when she turned away slightly.  "Stephanie, just take the cup," I said, smiling.  "It's supposed to be a nice gesture."  Gee... didn't women appreciate sweet gestures anymore?

I stopped digging in my purse and looked at Jetty, smiling.  "Well, thank you," I said, taking the cup and holding it with both hands.  I did not want to drop it this time.  How sweet of him to buy me a new drink.  I wasn't sure if many boys would do that anymore... they didn't seem to care about being nice to someone without getting soemthing in return.  "I was just headed back to the castle... if that's where you were headed, we can walk back together," I suggested.

I nodded.  "I was headed back, too," I told her.  "I don't think I could stand walking to anywhere else in this weather... I really hadn't wanted to come to Hogsmeade in the first place."  But I did it because we needed to get tuxes around for the wedding party.  There was no way I was going to complain about the weather to Dean.  He had enough to stess about.

When he opened the door for me, I smiled and thanked him.  We walked up the road and back towards the way to Hogwarts.  "What brought you out of hte castle then?" I asked him, letting the butterbeer warm me from the inside out.  It tasted so good right now.  There wasn't much snowfall, but the air was very crisp and extremely cold.

"Getting a tux for a wedding," I explained, taking a sip.  "One of my friends is getting married and we figured we'd at least get sized and order them now since we know everything for them already."  Well, for the most part anyways.  Dean wasn't privvy to all the details that Addison was deciding.  Just hte ones that affected him.  And I couldn't help but laugh when Dean would say he liked it that way.

I nodded, understanding completely.  "Does it happen to be Dean and Addison?" I asked, having talked with Lucy about how she was in the wedding party and stuff.  Lucy hadn't gone into allt he details, but just the fact that they were going to be going dress shopping soon.  Most likely during Christmas break.

I glanced over at her.  "How'd you know?" I questioned.  I suppose word would travel quickly through school... but I thought that Dean and Addie had it more on the down-low than most people would think.  They wanted a small ceremony, nothing huge.  So we all agreed to keep it quiet for them as much as we could anyways.

I grinned, seeing his face.  "Best friend of Lucy's boyfriend," I replied.  "Lucy and I talk... she was so excited that she was asked to be a bridesmaid.  Don't worry... I haven't told anyone.  Lucy sworn me to secrecy," I added.

I chuckled and shrugged.  "I don't really care... but I'm sure the bride and groom would be appreciative," I said.  I really didn't feel like talking about Dean and Addison the whole way back, but I thought it might be odd to suddenly switch the subject.  I mean... I wasn't a natural when it came to talkign with the ladies.  Dean always teased me about it.