Hogsmeade! It was a sense of freedom while at school, and one right of passage that Cassie never missed out on. Cassie often went with her cousin, or friends, but never really with a purpose or goal. But today, there was an agenda. Funny that she still was lugging around the novel she was reading despite not intention of reading it. In the company of her darling cousin, and with the plans of getting dresses and presents, there was little time to read. “We can get food at some point right?”  Cassie had no idea how long finding the perfect outfits for this Yule Ball would be, but they still had to eat right?

Cassie looked at Sophie, she could already feel the idea of being hungry. At least she wasn’t as bad as Ollie, that girl could eat constantly. Of course she didn’t say that out loud. Last thing she wanted was to bring up the friend who had not made it last at Hogwarts, after all was out. She was sure Ollie would have found this all fascinating and kind of fun. Instead, Cassie decided to focus on the fact they had to find gifts for family and still get their hands on the perfect dresses. “I sense it is going to busy with the dress robes.” Cassie nodded her head, as it would make sense what with the Yule Ball. “But at least you have a date,” she paused, “No matter how questionable that decision was.” Yeah, Fig was okay but she thought Sophie could do better and more importantly was hung up on others. But whatever, if this was what would make her happy then she wasn’t going to force asking questions as to why the heck she had gone back to dating Fig. If she could recall it, the whole thing had been a mess when it ended. Or at least that had been how Cassie had interpreted it.

“How busy do you think it will be?” Cassie was stressing a little on the fact it could be too busy to be as organized and particular as she liked. But maybe others had asked for their dresses to be sent from home. She could hope right? Maybe she should have done that. But then that left the decision in the hands of her mother. No, she couldn’t have that. She would decide herself and deal with the masses if they were there. “So presents or dresses first?”

High energy was a Flickwick trait, every single one of them had inherited their great grandmother's go-go spirit. Sophie had become decidedly more relaxed in the last year but it seemed that Cassie was picking up the slack, talking a mile a minute and already fussing. Sophie just smiled, linking arms with her cousin and bumping the other girl's head gently with her own, "You ocd is showing Cass. Stop, take a deep breath, and relax. We have today and tomorrow if need be to find everything we're looking for. I think we start with dresses because it's still a little early and the shops might not be as crowded. Besides, who am I buying Christmas for besides you and Figro? Em isn't coming home, Johnny is still on tour with Da, and Ruby is...Ruby". She didn't add that she'd had Deus' present picked out since last summer and that it had been sitting in her trunk neatly wrapped since they arrived back at Hogwarts.

All in all Sophie was managing to keep herself together nicely. One person in the conversation had to be rational and obvious right now that wasn't going to be Cassie so Sophie took the lead. She was looking forward to the Yule Ball, but not really to Christmas itself. Everything was going to be different this year, no Christmas candies to make, no wayward friends to bring home with her and have her mother love on endlessly. Even though it was only the fifth Sophie had decided she wouldn't even bother decorating the house when she got there. She'd spend the holiday in her books and maybe see Figaro once or twice if time allowed. It was better not to make a big deal of it, keep her head down and push through this first holiday. She didn't want to be a Scrooge or make her cousin worry so she smiled brightly as they made their way to Gladrags.

"You don't have to go alone you know, you could always ask someone yourself," Sophie had always just drug Nicky with her wherever she had to go and didn't have a date for, which gave her an idea of sorts, "What about Nick Beavens? I doubt he has a date. I mean you might be surrounded by a cloud of Gillyweed smoke all night," she stopped and shook her head, no that was exactly why Nicky wouldn't work. "Hmm, what about Zel? I mean you're in the same house, he's a very nice boy, of course dancing might be awkward with the height difference," she was more muttering to herself now, going through the list of boys she knew who would also not be skeevy with her cousin. "There's always Deus, I mean... if you wanted," she tried to keep her voice nonchalant, there was history there but history was just that - history. It wouldn't be anything serious and if anyone could get Cass to loosen up... "I mean if you get down to the wire or whatever," because that sounded totally convincing.

Cassie adjusted her scarf her chin was getting cold, but then probably talking a mile a minute about everything and not letting someone get a word in was causing her scarf to shift. She looked at her cousin and sheepishly smiled at her moment. Gosh was it? But hearing Sophie did calm her a little, and she did as instructed and took a deep breath. “Sorry.” She said meekly. “And you have a point you definitely do.” She was calming herself. But she hated when things did not feel as if they had an order, or purpose. She had nothing to focus on, well she did not until Sophie had decided they were going to be headed to Gladrags first. It had a calming and noticeable effect.

“Well, I have you and my parents, and Carver to buy for.” Cassie said, trying not to sound panicked. It would be fine and her little brother was so easy to buy for. But her parents it was always hard. Though as she had said it she remembered and hoped this did not rub it in Sophie’s face. “Did you want to come over for Christmas dinner?” Cassie offered as she knew her parents would have anyway. She didn’t want her cousin all on her own. Family was important at Christmas, and this was going to be a tough one. Cassie though quickly shut herself up and just smiled. “Too Gladrags.”

It was much nice to focus on something else, as she felt like she was just babbling.  She scrunched up her nose and shook her head as she mentioned Nick Beavens. The idea of a smoke of Gillyweed was not appealing. While she had experienced it herself, an entire night of the scent was not appealing to her right now or ever really. And Zel was, too tall, definitely too tall. But the last suggestion left her rather curious. Deus, had her cousin actually suggested him. She was obviously still hung ip on him, whether she wanted to admit it or not to her. Was it appropriate to go with him? But going through the list she started with Nick, “If he smelled better, maybe. And I would look ridiculous next to Zel.” Cassie did not wish to look awkward dancing, as she wanted to dance this evening. She missed it, and as lovely as Zel was that would just not work. “And are you sure about Deus, I wouldn’t want to make up unhappy?” Which was the complete truth. “Maybe I will just go alone.” Cassie was already feeling the hints of awkward. No, this would just not do. “Maybe I’ll find someone.”

She looked up and saw door of Gladrags. “Look at you, spot on.” She was pleased to see it was not overrun just yet. At least they had been wise enough to get up and on their way early enough.

Sophie gave her cousin a half smile and shook her head, "Let's just deal with the Yule Ball. I really don't want to think about Christmas right now". It was true, she didn't want to think about it, but it didn't keep her from thinking about it. She appreciated what Cassie was trying to do, she really really did... but Sophie's gut told her watching her aunt and uncle celebrate Christmas in their family way would only make her miss her mother more. Sophie didn't like being sad and she loathed thinking about things that were bound to make her sad by the time they arrived so not thinking about it was how she had decided to deal with Christmas this year.

She arched an eyebrow at Cassie's inquiry about Deus, passing through the front door of the robe shop, "What is that supposed to mean? Why would I be unhappy? Deus and I are friends, he made it clear that that was all he wanted. It's not like I lay awake at night crying over him," anymore she added silently to herself. It had been a passing thing, she'd let him get too close and see too much and... it was better that they were just friends now. Besides she liked Figaro, most of the time, when he wasn't making her nuts. "Deus Deres is a free agent, he always has been and he always will be. Keep him as a card in your back pocket - but don't wait too long or someone else might snatch him up".

She gave her cousin a lopsided grin before letting go of her arm and heading toward a rack of gowns, "The most monumentally unfair thing about being short is that whenever I wear a long dress I look utterly ridiculous," her brow furrowed a little as she glanced back at her cousin, "I mean I could wear heels I guess, but Figaro isn't that much taller than me to start with, and I'd probably break my neck. Remember I twisted my ankle at cousin Finny's wedding just walking across the dance floor summer before last, and I have to actually do the whole Champion's Dance thing. Gordic's Garters I hope Fig will take ten minutes out from being himself and actually take that seriously. Do  you think it'd be tacky to wear a shorter dress? Everyone's going to be in ball gowns but do you remember my Quinceañera dress? I looked like a walking wad of pink bubble gum"!

Alright, so Christmas was off the table. Cassie didn’t want to be awkward about it, or force the Christmas spirit on her. She just hoped that she didn’t have to dial back her natural love of Christmas and her excitement of seeing her family. Sophie wanted to be treated like normal, and Cassie knew that, but at the same time she didn’t wish to upset her. It was a pickle indeed. Cassie hated these social awkwardness around death and the after effects. Holidays without your mother were not supposed to happen this soon. “Right Yule ball.” Focus on the Yule Ball.

Crying, that word made her cringe. Sure she was saying it was fine but it probably wasn’t. No, Cassie was sure that it would bother her or something. Sophie wasn’t talking about her feelings and sure she was Fig and had made her choice in that regard. But she had really liked Deus, and she knew it. But admittedly it would be nice to attend with someone, and he was definite no strings attached and would have some fun with. “I’ll think about it.” She hoped this appeased her.

But as the entered and Sophie started talking about everything and quickly she looked at her knowing she wasn’t going to get out any truths about how she felt right now. Anyway, this was shopping time and not the time for all that drama. Cassie smiled and shook her head as she started to look around. “We’ll find you something don’t worry Soph.” Cassie nodded her, bushing some of her curls behind her ear. “I am sure we can find you a nice long dress that wont look weird at all. It can be done. You aren’t that short.” She stressed the that, a little more than intended. “Plus I would rather you looked graceful and not falling on your face in heels.” Cassie smirked, almost in an attempt to tease. She recalled that time she tripped, well any really that involved heels. “And I am sure Fig can take something seriously, as long as we stress the importance of it.” She used the word we intentionally, because if she had to sit her darling housemate down to have a chat about it she would.

“I think it would be better to stay away from a short dress when all eyes are on you. But, perhaps we can take a look. Though a long dress would have the lines. Maybe something not pink and definitely not puffy?” Though she was now snickering at the very thought of darling Sophie looking like pink bubble gum. She actually laughed. “Sorry, best mental picture ever remembering that dress. Why did we let you wear it?” Cassie asked as if she had any say in the matter, which she of course had not.

Sophie let the subject of Deus drop, though she did think maybe about talking to him to see if he'd ask Cass when things got down to the wire, on the chance she hadn't found anybody yet. She knew the Slytherin would probably make a big show of asking Professor Storm or someone just for a laugh, but obviously that wasn't going to be an actual thing. There still was time of course, it was only the fifth. They had two whole weeks to try and find Cassie someone to go with. She did, however, give her cousin a rather incredulous look at the suggestion she wasn't that short. Sophie lied about her height all the time, and people most let her get away with it, but even for a Flickwick girl she was short. She was much closer to 5'1 than the 5'3 she often tried to claim.

"I just always feel like I look like a six year old playing in Mommy's closet. When it comes to baby faces we got um Cuz," her tone was teasing as she looked at her round faced companion. Apple cheeks and bright eyes were a Flickwick thing, both girls carried plenty of traits from their mothers but looking young and big hair was a shared Flickwick trait - even Sophie's dad had big hair, for a guy anyway. Thumbing through a rack of gowns in hues of silver, gold, black, even white Sophie felt the whole thing was rather hopeless. She hated dress shopping. Last year hadn't been nearly so important and she's had Emmy, Ruby, Cassie, Noni, and her mother to chime in on everything she tried on. It wasn't that she wasn't happy to be sharing the day with Cass, it just seemed like such a big thing to do without her mother.

A flicker of a rueful smile reached all the way to her eyes as Cassie asked what they had been thinking at the time of her Quinceañera, "Ramos family tradition, it was my mum's dress, and before that Tia Maritza wore it. Mum did what she could to keep the color vibrant, but also she had a really long time alone with that dress. My birthday is in May and we couldn't get everyone in the same place until like July that year," it was a happy memory - one of the few that Sophie didn't find physically painful to have brought up or to talk about. "I dunno, plus I was fifteen, and I wanted to feel like a princess. I think I ended up feeling more like an overly frosted cake, besides it's made Abuelo happy. Ruby and Ems hadn't even wanted parties. I think they felt like I was carrying on this almost lost tradition. It was totally out of my hands," there was a soft genuine laugh to her voice as she kept glancing through gowns.

Okay, maybe, just maybe, Sophie had a point. Cassie looked at her and sighed. “Whoa, why are we bringing me into this.” She said with a smile, because she knew exactly why. Cassie much like Sophie had a baby face, but she would like to say not as bad as Sophie’s. Though she was kind of happy they had dropped the Deus topic of conversation for right now. Would it be such a big deal to attend the ball alone? Though she felt like she would be hard pushed to get someone to dance with. Cassie really did not want to think about it and started to flip through the dresses.

Cassie peeked around some dresses and looked as her cousin told of the reason why she had worn that pink dress. “Right, family traditions get you every time.” Though wished she had some traditions like that in her own life, and she was sure she did, but she had never been squeezed into her mother’s dress before. “Sure Sophie, a princess.” She rolled her eyes, “I going to have to agree with the more frosted cake description.” Cassie hide back behind the dresses she was looking at and started to really take in what they looked like. “What are these made for models?” Cassie’s eyes went a little large. “As elegant as a long dress would be as Fig attempts to spin you about the floor, I think we should look at the long dresses.”

Cassie was even entertaining the idea of wearing her own short dress by looking at the selection they had here. While she was not as short as Sophie, she still felt short looking at all these dresses. Not to mention not exactly having the body shape for them. Dress shopping was not fun.

Sophie gave a small, slightly defeated sigh, as she hung a lacy backed gown on the rack, "I just...want Figaro to be proud of being seen with me. It's a big deal. He took the loss pretty hard. I want to, I don't know, show him that I still think he's a champion..." her voice trailed off as she shook her head. "Enough of that swishy swoshy nonsense. Short dresses it is, and convincing you to at least talk to Nicky. I mean he is a nice guy. He's been my safety date for nearly every event this year. We  even went to Halloween together... of course that was the night I ended up back with Fig, terrible form of me," there was a bashful sort of laughter to her voice as she attacked another rack with renewed vigor. She needed to look killer, even if it wasn't traditional.

"We should find you something in pink, not bubblegum pink, but a nice soft pink. You have that great coloring that makes soft colors just pop," Sophie was more mumbling to herself that her cousin as she trailed her fingers over the dress selections. Short really was better, she just wasn't built for long gowns. There was something sort of nagging at her though, the idea that Cassie had that Deus would some how upset her. Looking over her shoulder her brow knit together Sophie cleared her throat, "What did you mean before, about you going with Deus and making me unhappy? It's been months since...we were anything". Slender fingers curled around the ivory silk of a dress that was too scandalous for the petite Gryffindor to even joke about wearing, "I mean, we're friends but, you know. The other thing didn't work out".

Nodding her head she thought she understood what Sophie was getting at. "He will be proud to be with you, and I say you on his arm is a pretty good prize." Cassie shrugged, "So he won something right, he won you back." Not that Sophie was something to win, and Cassie hoped she did not think she meant it like that. But it was the only way she could think to phrase it for now, that Fig was lucky to have her back. It was some sort of feat to do that, or at least Cassie thought. Plus, she really did think that Sophie was still hung up on Deus. Time was needed to heal that wound, the disappointment. Sure they were friends, but Cassie could see there was residual feelings there.

"Short it is," Cassie would agree. Though as Sophie talked about Nick she couldn't help but smile. "Really?" Cassie liked the idea of a date, of someone to dance the night away with. But would Nick even wish to go with her? Though a hint of a laugh slipped out. "Bad form Sophie, but I think he understands." Anyway, gave her an option for a date? "Maybe I'll talk to Nick. I know he is nice and he is cute. But would he really want to go with me?" Cassie the ever and always self-concious.

Cassie listened as Sophie went on about what sort of dress they should look for and she simply just nodded her head. "I like that idea. I think you need something that will pop." After all eyes would be on her for a bit. Though as she pushed through some racks of dresses, checking out the fabrics. What shocked her though was Sophie's question. "Whether there is anything actually there, or not, I know you like still like him Sophie. You don't fall that hard and have it disappear over night." Words of wisdom, she hoped and not result in any negative backlash. "Sorry." Cassie said nervously.

"Why wouldn't Nicky want to go with you? You're more likely to kiss him than I ever was when he was my date," Sophie had always been grateful for her friend's willingness to go places with her with zero expectation. You couldn't find that in many boys. Well, if she was fair, it wasn't just boys - everyone had a tit for tat attitude; if I do this for you what are you going to do for me? Sophie tried not to look at life that way, but sometimes it got the best of even her fairly high moral fiber. "Besides, he'll get to have a pretty date and not spend the whole night shuffling his feet on the sidelines, maybe he'll even try to tame that mop of curls he calls hair".

As the conversation changed gears Sophie could tell that Cassie was trying not to upset her, make her angry, or cause her to be defensive. With all that in mind the sixteen year old took a deep breath and looked down at a particularly vibrant patch of crimson and gold before speaking, "You know this time last year I was madly in love with Devlin Matthews - when I wasn't pining after Chance. I felt like no matter what I did I would never measure up to Fauna Blake, I was planning what to wear to the SAWS Christmas thing, and in general caught up in all my emotions. I fell in and out of love so many times that the word lost all actual meaning or significance".

She looked at her cousin with a half smile, raising one shoulder before letting it drop, "And then everything changed. My whole life changed, and I realized that everything I really loved  that I really cared about, the thing that mattered was gone. Da went on tour, Ruby went off the rails, Emmy never knew how to deal with family, and Johnny was drunk all the time, and Mum was dead and buried," she paused and chewed on her lip for a moment, "I survived though, and Deus is part of the reason I could. He gave me an outlet... but I let myself get carried away, and in the face of everything else I've lost, a kind-of-sort-of-boyfriend doesn't really compare. It's a survivable loss".

And it was, at the end of the day it was all survivable, it was hard of course but it was not a tragedy. It did not define how she felt about herself. If one could survive losing their family, Sophie had found, there was very little that could not be overcome. Plucking a crimson dress with gold accents from the rack she turned toward Cassie and held it up, "What do you think? Too flashy or just the right amount of Roar Roar I'm Gryffindor"? It was best to change gears back to the task at hand. She didn't want to think about everything else. Cassie was right, really being over Deus would take time but as Sophie saw it... she had the rest of her life heal. She only had today and tomorrow to find a the right dress.

Kiss Nick? Cassie had not really thought about all that. Would she have to kiss, was he expecting it? Not that she did not mind the notion, as it was kind of nice. She quickly pushed the thoughts out of her mind as this was not the time or place to panic about it over think. First she had to ask, well even before that decide she really wanted to ask him. She had a feeling Sophie would have a hand in encouraging that decision and she knew it. Look, she had already started. "I like his hair as it is, so I don't mind either way. But I still need to decide if I want to ask him." She looked at Sophie, almost with a look of I know you will make this decision for me.

Cassie stood back and listened to Sophie, it was just what she needed to do. She knew how Sophie felt about Devlin, Chance, and Fauna. But she was right, all of it changed and the feelings seemed so small when compared to what Sophie went through after. Cassie couldn't understand how a family could break, and she would never really understand how Sophie felt. Yes, Cassie lost a family member and has remained distanced from those other parts of Sophie's family. But Cassie is not so silly as to think it even compares to how Sophie feels. "I know Sophie, I know it is survivable. But it is still a feeling, and I wouldn't wish to rub salt in the wound by going with him. I know you say it is fine, it is survivable. But I do not wish to be this years Fauna." As she said Fauna she used quotation marks. She knew it would never be that extreme, but still, she did not wish to go out with Deus when Sophie felt the way she still felt.

As the dress was revealed she was both relieved to see it and the topic at hand to be dropped. "That is gorgeous," Cassie said excitedly. The mile a minute voice was ready to break out. "Perfect, just the right amount of house pride and stunning with those peacock leaves. Right length and not gaudy. I think it is perfect. You are done, settled, the perfect dress." Cassie said making a check mark gesture in the air, as if to check it off a list. Well, she was checking it off her mental organization list of life.

"Of course you're going to ask Nicky, since apparently you think I'll throw myself from the Divination tower if you ask Deus. You'll go with him, because why would he say no? You're Cassie bleedin' Flickwick and twice as adorable as the day is long," she grinned at her cousin, nose wrinkling a little bit. Sophie was a bossy little bugger, but it came from a place of love so she mostly got away with it. Besides all that, Cassie and Nick would be cute together in pictures and so the matter was really settled in Sophie's mind. Now it was a all about finding her cousin the dress - because she obviously was not going to convince the other girl that she really was fine with how everything had played out with Deres. Some battles were just not worth fighting to be right.

"I have those red and gold bangles to go with it," she glanced down at the dress, holding it up to her slender frame to get a rough idea of where it would fall, "Fig's grown enough I could even probably wear heels, at least a little bit of one. I don't want to break my neck or anything. What about hair? I was thinking low loose chignon, with some curled bits around my face? I could always wear it down but then I just play with it and end up with a ratty mess before the nights over," they were both talking a mile a minute now, having left the sad topics in the dust. This really was all about planning. The Ball might have been two weeks away but in girl-time that might as well have been tomorrow.

"So, to completely switch gears," she said it rather offhandedly, as she rounded the rack looking at softer colors for her cousin, "how serious should a first-Christmas-together present be? I mean I went all out for Valentines last year, full on fan experience with Creevey and the boys. He got me a clock with a dog on it. So, I have no expectations, but I also don't want to go overboard. I was thinking maybe a Falcons' hoodie? They're his favorite team, I can't really afford a set of robes, but I mean a hoodie is good? I just feel guilty because I found Deus' present last summer when we were, you know, and it's a cute and really personal inside joke between us, and then there's your and Zel's gifts and I've put so much time into them... I don't want him to feel cheated or whatever - but seriously, dog clock," her eyes shifted up, her expression almost incredulous, "I could always knit him a Snitch, since it's the only way he'll ever catch one".

Cassie rolled her eyes at Sophie. Okay, throwing herself off the Divinations tower was a bit dramatic, and extreme. But she still wasn't going to ask Deus because she didn't think it was wise. "Fine, I will ask him then." Cassie said a bit sarcastically and she wasn't even sure if she was serious. But she doubted that Sophie was about to let her get away with it. Nope, now she was in it and she should be asking Nick before the week was out she was sure of it. Sophie was a bossy pain in the butt.

Though it was better to focus on the dress hunt, as that was currently at hand. Cassie knew they had to get the perfect dresses for both of them. This was the task and if you didn't have a dress there was no point in asking a date. Cassie would build up the courage for that other part, and now focus dresses. "I think those bangles would go great. As for your hair I think it is much better not to wear it down. We don't want you looking like a ratty mess at the end of the night, plus you would be bound to get too hot with it down." Cassie nodded her head. "So I won't let you wear it down." No matter how nice it would probably look to begin with.

Cassie laughed as she heard the story of gifts past, she had sort of forgotten about it. Cassie shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I like the Snitch Idea. But I think go all out again, no harm in that he knows you care then. Plus perhaps he learned from the last mistake?" Sophie was the type to go all out, it would just seem weird if she didn't. At least in her own mind. "I am not very good gauge though, as I have not really been in that position. But I think really give him something nice  and hopefully you get something in return. But it is the giving that matters right?"

"Your life goes much more smoothly when you just let me direct it," Sophie fluttered her lashes at the other girl before giving her a silly grin. She was well aware that she could barely run her own life, but sometimes she did see things differently than Cassie, in a broader sense. Refocusing her attention she nodded vaguely as Cassie agreed about the bangles and hair, Sophie's attention on the dresses before her as she tried to find something for her cousin. Pinks were good, as much as Sophie loved her Hufflepuff friends they had gotten the worst deal when it came to house colors. Cass'd look like a bumblebee if she went for house pride! Of course she'd have been an adorable bumblebee but it wasn't really sort of mood one should strike at the biggest event of their lives to date.

"Don't get me wrong. I love that stupid clock. But it was a clock, on Valentine's Day. I mean Chance and Dion both bought me jewelry, it's weird when your friends get you more romantic gifts than your boyfriend. Also, really hard to explain," she gave Cassie a it-was-so-awkward look, shaking her head. She wasn't actually worried about what Fig got her for Christmas, mostly because, well... she didn't have expectations. She just didn't want to look...over eager this go around. She didn't want to seem like she cared more. Caring more was a weakness she just couldn't afford right now, not that she could explain that to Cassie. It would go back to Deus and then it would solidify the conviction Sophie wasn't really over what had transpired between them the previous summer (even though she so totally was).

"Of course it's the giving that matters, it's just... I don't want to seem like I'm obsessed with him you know? I went way over board for Valentine's Day because I could, because I always do, and I just don't want him to get the wrong idea and think that I'm picking out wedding songs or something. Guys get really weird when they think you're too into them," she did not expand upon where she had gotten this notion. It wasn't that Figaro particularly projected that vibe it was just a feeling she had... that had possibly been the conclusion she came to after everything just abruptly stopped with that other person. Looking thoughtful she plucked a pink dress from the rack and held it up for the other girl to see, "The snitch might hurt his feelings, I mean if I told him the joke".