Finally- it was Hogsmeade weekend. Carys had been looking forward to it. The Yule Ball was just two weeks away- and Maeve was coming to Hogsmeade to help her pick out a dress. They were going to check at Gladrags first, and if that didn't work, Carys had sent off for a few catalogs from other shops. They could order one if they had to... Though if they ordered a dress, it wouldn't be as perfectly fitted. There wouldn't be much of a chance for proper alterations. Of course, Carys would be more or less satisfied no matter what route they took- so long as she had a pretty dress.

It had been a long time since Carys had spent any time with her big sister. She and Maeve had always been close, and since her sister had graduated, Carys had missed her terribly. Maxen was still at school, but he was a horrible, monster of a little brother and it wasn't the same. Besides, socializing with Maeve had given Carys the chance to socialize with Maeve's Slytherin friends... Now that she was on her own, creating and maintaining those Slytherin relationships was much more difficult. But Carys was determined to make it work- and thus far, she had.

She was supposed to meet her sister at Gladrags Wizardwear after classes were out. Carys had hurried off to Hogsmeade as soon as she could, and was ecstatic to see her sister waiting for her just inside the shop. "Maeve!" she called out brightly, then wrapped her sister in a hug. "I'm so glad to see you! I've really missed you! Hogwarts has been so dull without you around!"