(open) peppermint winter

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Wrapped up tightly in her blue winter coat and with her scarf tucked snugly around her neck Celeste wandered down the snow covered path to Hogsmeade, her shoes crunched the snow and left a trail of footprints in her wake with each step marking her way. Celeste adored winter, Christmas, snow ball fights and hot chocolate, it was one of her favourite seasons and she hardly understood why people disliked it. No to mention those wildly patterned winter jumpers that suited people just wonderfully in that nerdy sexy way just made winter even more brilliant. With a smile playing at her lips she peered in at Honeydukes through the frosted window, condensation melting away as her breath hitched on the glass, and with a gentle smile she chuckled at the colourful enchanted display.

Turning swiftly, her eyes widened as her feet slipped on a patch of ice by the door and she fell with a squeak into a patch of snow.
"Oh great." she muttered.

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Hanna had been analytically observing the shelves within the colorful confines of the building Honeydukes, a keen eye skimming over the ‘special effects’ selection of sweets ranging in all shapes, colors, sizes, and more importantly flavor. Grasped tightly to her chest was a small bag filled with chocolate cauldrons, fizzing whizzbees, and intricate glacial snowflakes that Hanna had, in particular, found to be quite lovely despite abhorring the wintry months. She had made her rounds about the store and was unlikely to leave without at least a handful of pepper imps, much to her housemates dismay. However Hanna was in no rush in particular and roamed the store deliberately, pleased to discover that the store had not been packed to the brim with obnoxious third and fourth years. She had been staring, utterly absorbed in the sugary variance of inventory, when a bluebell bubble passed just inches away from her periphery, inciting the sudden turn of her head towards the frosted window.

It was just in time to see a fellow sixth year allegorically ‘eat dirt’, and a for mentioned housemate at that! Tawny eyes widened and she promptly moved towards the door, poking a head-full of frizzy red hair into the crisp outdoors.

”Wow, you should audition for Swan Lake,” Hanna commented playfully. It was Celeste, and although the two were not close she knew the girl to be friendly enough. Slipping through the small gap in the door she made her way over to Celeste and offered an encouraging hand to help her up.

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Gingerly she rubbed the sore spot on her knee and frowned at the damp patch that had circled around it. The snow was soft and had thankfully cushioned her fall but it hadn’t help her poor knee, she winced at the stinging pain only unclenching her fist as it slowly mellowed out into a dull ache. The shop bell jingled and a familiar flock of red hair peered out of the Honeydukes, Celeste returned Hanna’s smile and accepted the hand offered.

“I was thinking that, but I might make everyone jealous with my skills you know.” she said with a tiny grin, pretending to consider the idea. Brushing off the excess snow and giving her knee cap a little tap with a fluffy gloved hand Celeste quickly deduced that there was no lasting damage and so she turned back to her flame haired friend.
“Right, I think I need some chocolate after that,” she grinned leading the way back into the shop, “What do you recommend.”

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A faint chime resounded at the two girls hurried back into the sweets shoppe, away from the arctic chill that had seeped its way into Hanna’s thick skin. She very much disliked the chilly weather, snow, ice, and it’s unforgiving temperament. Once within Honeydukes she let a chill shudder through her petite frame, rubbing her frigid fingers together in a rapid motion. Drawing down her red and gold striped scarf she spoke to Celeste candidly.

”Hate the cold,” she commented, an air of cheerless bias cutting into her usually animated character, but it was quickly forgotten amongst the warm boundaries of the candy store. Quickly she took Celeste by the arm, locking her elbow with her colleague’s, dragging the brunette further into the colorful outlet towards the expansive rows of succulent chocolates and fudge.

“Now,” she started diplomatically, staring wide-eyed at the selection. ”I, personally, love all sweets, so it’s difficult you see… to choose just one. I’m rather fond of chocolate cauldrons, but I also quite enjoy frogs and wands as well. Clearly, the only answer- the best answer, would be to get more than one,” Hanna grinned cheekily, picking up a container with ‘Charm Choc’ scrawled ornately on the side.

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The cold air nipped at her cheeks tinting them a frosty pink as the bitter breeze swept through Hogsmeade chilling her skin through the damp patches on her now scuffed jeans. The shop’s warmth was welcoming, and Honeydukes always had a way of taking you out of the most grumpiest of moods, Celeste supposed it was due to how bright and colourful the inside was, not to mention the silky scent of chocolate that radiated the room. She could feel her mouth watering already and as she followed Hanna’s line of vision as her flame haired friend pointed out her favourites Celeste had begun to make a mental list of what to buy.

“I think I’m just going to have to buy it all,” smiled Celeste, as an idea formulated in her head “you know what, I say we grab a load and have a feast back in the common room.”
She’d already envisioned them (they’d of course grab Rochelle as well) sat by the fire stuffing their faces with sweets, pouring over homework - or most likely chatting about quidditch - with the newest weird sisters album blared from the communal record player the house shared. It sounded like the best way to waste a Saturday afternoon.
“we can get out of the cold as well!” grinned Celeste who had already begun to laden her arms with treats.

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Hanna simply nodded passionately, several treats already crammed into her imbued shopping bag, a somewhat cheeky grin spreading across her freckle-dusted features. Wide, dark eyes darted to and fro as she just barely clenched her lips tightly closed, though there were trickles of steam escaping from the corners and sweat gathering at her temples. Desperately, she tried to motion towards her friend, but her game of charades was fruitless. She turned around, unable to hold it in any longer, towards a rather stoutly plump woman who appeared to be restocking several different kinds of fudge.

”Oh crikey! That’s hot stuff, those pepper imps,” she says amidst a fit of laugher and fire breath, though the flames were small and met their death almost immediately after leaving her mouth. Despite this, she watched- much to her horror and rapture- the flames lick about the plump woman’s cotton candy colored perm. With her back to Hanna the woman barely noticed as her hair lit aflame and Hanna took several steps backwards. 

"Yeah- let's, uhm... Hurry back to the common room."