Early afternoon, on the day of the Hogwarts Yule Ball

---

December in Britain was often chilly, but could also be rather mild and wet. Today was one of the cold ones with the wetter weather in London on the way. Hogwarts would have snow of course - it and Hogsmeade could have snow at Christmas even if London had turned tropical, Edwin was sure.

Along with attending the Yule Ball that evening, Edwin was taking advantage of his Saturday to do the remaining Christmas shopping. A trip wouldn't quite be right before Christmas without visiting Morgana's Novelties - a place on Diagon packed full of Muggle novelties, which he had frequented for quite some time.

Not only did she fill her shop with all sorts of curious things to put in his own lonely house, but she'd often some perfect and unexpected presents for his mother. Joan Glass was a Muggle, and had married Edwin's father, Arnold, and was introduced to a world that fascinated her. An author of a few Muggle Studies books in decades past, she and his father were enjoying retirement up in Yorkshire now. She had a fascination with Muggle interpretations of the world she was now party to, from fairytales to artwork and anything else he stumbled upon.

Opening the door to Morgana's shop, he breathed in that unique smell of items collected from far and wide, and as the door shut behind him, he gazed about and upwards at what was within. Pulling out his pocketwatch he consulted the time he had, contemplating whether to browse, or allow the good lady Morgana to suggest a few suitable items - her taste as ever, impeccable.

Slipping the watch back, he made his way towards the counter with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, hoping to find the witch in question not far from the shop front. Not before admiring a rather striking painting of a young woman that caught his eye. Strange to see these things stay still...

Despite her shop's location, Morgana didn't have many customers. Like any shopkeeper she wished for business, but at the same time she was quite happy to have some peace in the shop once in a while. Today was a little different; she had completed her stocktaking and arranging, and so didn't actually have anything to do at the moment.

She busied herself with checking her finances, and it was that moment when the door to the shop opened. Morgana looked up from her book, half hidden by the counter since she was sitting down.

A familiar face. A very familiar face indeed, and one of the few that she looked forward to. Mr Glass, as she had taken to addressing him, was one of the few regulars to her poky little shop. She was secretly grateful for his presence for many, many reasons, but mainly because he was really quite the customer every shopkeeper honestly wanted to serve.

She got to her feet and silently moved to stand next to her counter instead of being half-blocked from sight. Her mind distractedly wondered about her appearance - she hadn't changed her eye and nail polish colour for a few weeks now - but she brushed away the nagging thoughts. It wasn't the moment, and she wasn't about to let herself ruin her usual shopkeeper image.

"Morgana!" Edwin greeted cordially, a smile spreading across his increasingly wrinkly features. "So good to see you again, how are you - how is trade?" He asked one questions swiftly after the other, decreasing the distance between he and the counter, and by default, her. Perhaps he might get away with a peck on the cheek, if she let him today.

"You're looking as divine as ever," Edwin complimented, knowing nothing about changing nail varnish and whatnot that Morgana worried of. He always worried however, when he applied the word divine that he sounded a bit too Darian Morgan... and he wasn't above being accused of being on that side of society for his unmarried, unattached status. Merlin... it wasn't for the sake of trying!

Broad smile still plastered on his face, he leaned casually against her counter and admired her features with the same gusto as always. One day she might actually let him take her out to dinner, perhaps.

"Mr Glass." Morgana nodded at him with a warm smile in return for his as she watched him approach with the speed of a determined fruitfly with a lone orange in its sight. She was very certain that he knew she was aware of his flirting, but he had a special kind of persistence that meant he ignored this and continued pursuing his intended goal of charming her.

And in a way, it certainly added charm to their every meeting - charm that she wouldn't get from anyone else at this age.  This was another of those many reasons why she looked forward to their meetings. Every conversation she had with him kept her on her toes and had about the same thrill as entering a decently secured house. Sometimes she'd had a few thoughts...

She smiled a little wider at his unabashed complimenting as she glanced to one side in genuine modesty. Her personal opinion of her appearance was not high; sometimes she wondered if he was being sincere with his compliments. But she never mentioned her perspective; she was not one to complain about something she could actually change at a whim, even if temporary.

When she turned her eyes back to him, he was suddenly quite close to her. So close, in fact, she could see the stars in his eyes. Morgana subtly sidled away from him a few inches.  He was one of the few people she allowed to enter her personal space. Intimate space not so much. Not yet, at least.

"Thank you," she said calmly. "You're as forward as ever, Mr Glass. Are you looking for anything of interest today from the merchandise?" A mischievous thought struck her. "Or are you on the hunt for something else, as it were?"

"Ahaha." Edwin laughed in a pleasant tone. "Something else, ha, well, I always live in hope, Morgana..." He gave her a warm smile and a wink, still leaning on her counter. She'd moved back, shame, he thought perhaps today would be of significance, being Christmas, nearly. But it was never his day with Morgana. Sigh.

"Its been a while," a little untrue, being classed as a regular, but manners... "show me what's new, what's to know."

Edwin gestured around himself, then to the painting of the girl who had just caught his eye. "Who's in the painting, do you know?"

Morgana looked in the direction he was speaking. "Ooh yes. It's not the real thing - for obvious reasons - but this is a copy of a rather famous painting, made to reflect the colours and quality of its most recent restoration. The original is currently hanging in a gallery in the Netherlands and is dated around mid-17th century."

She leaned against her counter absent-mindedly, not noticing that he was around the borders of her personal space once again. "The Muggle whose wares I stock couldn't get any Muggle seller he knew to take it off his hands, being that it was given to him and now he doesn't want it. So I agreed to buy it for a reduced price, but I'm not optimistic on it being sold within the next few weeks. Most of the wizarding folk are not interested in such ordinary objects, especially paintings that do not move."

Her eyes wandered the shop for any new merchandise. "My newest stock are the antique astrolabes I picked up from France, on the table next to the old globe at the back, and teak candleholders from Thailand. But surely candleholders are not your fancy, my good sir...unless you want to magic them so that they do a little jig for you every time you light a candle."

For the whole time she spoke, she gazed distantly at the opposite wall as she recalled details about her stock. So if he made any eyes at her at any given time, she wouldn't have noticed.

"Hmm..." Edwin replied, looking at the painting and then to Morgana. He could be better at art if he tried, he knew this, but her description was teasing him. Damn, he'd have to cover his ignorance.

"They're easier to explain when you have Muggle callers," He smiled as he thought about it. "Not something you often have to consider in the wizarding world, but increasingly common. We've had to deal with a few incidents involving particularly gobby portraits."

Realising Morgana didn't seem too interested, he turned on the spot.

"Candlesticks, astrolabe... hmm." His eyes traced around the shelves and surfaces in the room, over the likes of a 1920s radio. He glanced back, "Have you ever had your portrait painted? Properly, a moving one?"

She couldn't help but smile at his question. It was so typical of him, and yet silly in the way that she was still amused. That was Edwin Glass for you - he knew she knew he was flirting, and he didn't care. One day she'd either have to completely reject him, or fold.

"Me? A moving portrait?" She chuckled. For a moment her amusement made her seem a little younger, a little less cynical. "I haven't had the time to have one done, and it would look rather out of place in my Muggle-ish flat." She wasn't lying; the only magical items she had in her flat were a Questionable Artefact Omniscope[1] in the corner of her living room and a potted Malayan Blue Lantern[2] on her kitchen windowsill.

"Besides, I don't think of my appearance that highly." She held up the back of her hand and examined it critically, subtle disdain on her face at her unchanged nail polish. There were other reasons, too...such as not having her appearance immortalised so that certain individuals could find her, but she wasn't going to tell him, obviously.

1.	Link to Compendium article
2.	Link to Compendium article

"Me? A moving portrait?" I haven't had the time to have one done, and it would look rather out of place in my Muggle-ish flat."

"Oh, shame." Edwin responded quietly, enjoying her chuckle.

"Besides, I don't think of my appearance that highly."

"Really?" Edwin was genuinely surprised, "Good lady you belittle yourself, you are as pretty as a picture." His mouth turned into a humoured smirk. "I know a wizard who paints well, you should let me introduce you one day." Edwin offered, but had a suspicion the offer would not be taken up.

"I understand what you mean about the Muggle abode though, I have much the same arrangement. Can't really enjoy  too much of the Muggle technology though - it all seems a bit flimsy, bit temporary in comparison to our craftsmanship." The Head of the Department gestured with his hands as if something between them was falling to pieces.

"I'll take a look around, perhaps." Edwin suggested, sliding his hands into his trouser pockets and beginning a wander around the place, peering into boxes and vases with trepidation. There was perhaps a bit less risk doing it here than other artefact shops that stocked boxes that would bite your fingers off, but one could never be too careful.

"How's business at the moment, anyhow?" Edwin asked from further away now, inspecting the guilt edge of a mirror which was reflecting his expression back towards the counter. "Are you getting the expected numbers of buyers just before Christmas, or are people looking to sell to make some money in time for the festive season?"

"I know a wizard who paints well, you should let me introduce you one day."

"I'll keep it in mind." Morgana shifted against the counter. "Who knows, perhaps I'll change my mind one day." When I stop playing hard to get with you, maybe was what she didn't add, mostly out of guilt.

"I understand what you mean about the Muggle abode though, I have much the same arrangement. Can't really enjoy  too much of the Muggle technology though - it all seems a bit flimsy, bit temporary in comparison to our craftsmanship."

Whatever Morgana was, she was still a Hollingbury at her core. Which meant that while she wasn't integrated into Muggle life, she had a soft spot for them. "I think they're ingenious, just the same as we are except favouring a...slightly different path," she said, a little softer than she expected herself to be. "But because their technology doesn't work with our magic, I suppose we'd never be able to understand them the same way they won't understand us."

After a moment's thought, she added, "That's what I think, anyway," in the tone of someone who had realised she'd probably spoken a bit more than she had wanted to.

She watched him meander around her shop as she made herself comfortable against her counter. Morgana never liked to follow her customers around, not even her regulars. It made her feel like she was stalking them for any possible theft - a bit hypocritical of her, but she could at least say that she paid for most of her current stock.

"How's business at the moment, anyhow? Are you getting the expected numbers of buyers just before Christmas, or are people looking to sell to make some money in time for the festive season?"

"Business is a little slow, apart from those interested in Muggle novelties," she replied. "Which is a surprising number. I expected one or two at most when I first opened this shop, but it turns out I get at least ten during a good week. Right now it's been going well so far, I've already broken even with my sales." Business as usual.

"In terms of wholesalers, nah. They know when to stop pushing me for purchases." She chuckled, gently rubbing her hands as her tone grew subtly coy. "My suppliers are more than aware of what I can do to them if they don't take no for an answer."

You're switching on charm just for this fellow, admit it, she told herself. Make up your mind!

"Business is a little slow, apart from those interested in Muggle novelties, which is a surprising number. I expected one or two at most when I first opened this shop, but it turns out I get at least ten during a good week. Right now it's been going well so far, I've already broken even with my sales. In terms of wholesalers, nah. They know when to stop pushing me for purchases."

Edwin looked round with undisguised curiosity as Morgana chuckled, gently rubbing her hands together.
"My suppliers are more than aware of what I can do to them if they don't take no for an answer."

He joined her chuckle politely, a bright smile across his face.
"As always, a very astute businesswoman, Morgana, I admire you!" He reached out and caressed the edge of the radio thoughtfully. "I am glad business is doing well for you, I'd be lost without a wander through the shop every few months."

Edwin glanced back and then noticed what looked like a dark coloured box nestled between things, and stooped forward to uncover it carefully - lifting out a Brownie Camera[1] which he recognised for what it was.

Carrying it back to Morgana's counter, Edwin placed it gently on the top.
"Where did you pick up this?" He asked, gesturing to the box. "Haven't seen one of these since my childhood in the forties and fifties!" Perhaps his obvious glee and interest would make Morgana put up the price, but he was almost glad to just hold more conversation with the woman.

1.	something like this

Morgana looked down at the little prize that he had unearthed from the clutter, genuinely surprised - not that she had it, but that he would know what it was. She didn't know what it was.

"Where did you pick this up?" His glee was almost palpable. "Haven't seen one of these since my childhood in the forties and fifties!"

"I sincerely have no idea," she replied, blinking in the wake of his interest and her surprise. "I don't even know what it is, but the man who sold it to me said it's something like a vintage collector's item within the right circles. I hadn't known you'd recognise it."

Then the businesswoman took over. "Would you like it to be a part of your house, Mr Glass? I'm sure it would be a great centrepiece in your abode as well as a nostalgic place in your childhood memories."

"The man who sold it to me said it's something like a vintage collector's item within the right circles. I hadn't known you'd recognise it."

Morgana sounded genuinely surprised and Edwin cracked a smile, bent over very slightly to examine the camera, he looked up almost mischievously at her.

"Would you like it to be a part of your house, Mr Glass? I'm sure it would be a great centrepiece in your abode as well as a nostalgic place in your childhood memories."

"For someone who likes Muggle artefacts, for sale you really should try spending more time with non-magicals at auction houses. I used to go when I was knee-high. We had one of these, though I am pretty sure my folks sold it along the way." He smiled at her, "You and I should go one day, to an auction. There's been a few times over the years when I was still obliviating people, that we were called to remove magical artefacts that had been put in them by non-magical relatives, not knowing." 

He stood up properly, holding the camera with outstretched arms.

"Why not, I'll see if I can get it working for a nostalgic Christmas present." Edwin grinned, not caring that his interest in the piece would now allow Morgana to try and manipulate him into a price. It was worth it for the chance to speak to her, to offer to take her to Muggle auction rooms, to spy her checking her nail varnish.

Morgana smiled at his words. "Technically a camera is not really an 'artefact', but usually I just don't expect people to know what it really is. But I'll take up your offer on these auctions...they sound interesting." And to give herself a healthy hobby that didn't involve her climbing out of someone else's bathroom window, for Merlin's sake.

"Why not, I'll see if I can get it working for a nostalgic Christmas present."

"Now, that would be interesting." Morgana was curious. "To a Muggleborn or Muggle, I presume? Theoretically it could work in a magical environment, but I'm not sure myself. It's not like I sell antiques on a daily basis."

At this point in time she wasn't even considering putting up prices - perhaps Mr Glass did not know, but sometimes she shaved off a few numbes if he was looking the other way. He was a regular, after all, and she respected regulars. They were few in her kind of shop, which made her appreciate them all the more.

"...But I'll take up your offer on these auctions...they sound interesting."

Hoora-hippy-hurray! Edwin tried not to look too pleased at her taking up the offer of going on a visit with him, rather than just holding court in her shop over her counter. That was progress.

"Now, that would be interesting. To a Muggleborn or Muggle, I presume? Theoretically it could work in a magical environment, but I'm not sure myself. It's not like I sell antiques on a daily basis."

Edwin's eyebrows raised,
"Well, we'll see." He mused in reply, giving the camera a last look. "I'd probably just be looking to repair it with magic if it required it, save a bit on a restoration, you know." He pressed his lips together thoughtfully. "Not sure if it could be adapted to our magical camera style, its that sort of age, but part of me would prefer it kept as it is, how the Muggles intended." He smiled, his big ears rising slightly as he did, "Can't be getting myself in trouble with Misuse of Muggle Artefacts office now, can I? Even if I like to ruffle a few feathers every now and then." He rested his forearms on the counter, letting Morgana attend to the purchase.

"I'd be honoured to take you down for a look." Edwin added, slightly more sedately, "to an auction. Sometimes I go along when there's particularly odd sales of items, try and catch items that have slipped through the divide between worlds. Curious people go to those things too."