(This is an open thread for anyone interested in a day on the beach! Feel free to start more open threads on the beach too - this is just one option for posting!)


"Does everyone have sunscreen potions?"

She paused for the nods as the group stood in front of the row of lifts on the ground floor. "Towels? Shoes? A cover up?" Aileen glanced at Abby and gestured at her to put it on. "Good. Let's move out."

At her word, several of the students broke away from the group to bounce through the hotel like wild monkeys. Aileen was not going to run or skip like that... it was undignified. She hauled her beach tote over her shoulder, her sunglasses already perched on her nose, and several other beach things bundled under her arm. Abby kept trotting forward then trotting backward to grin at her and try to hurry her up.

Aileen merely quirked an eyebrow at her and smiled.

"Careful! Don't barrel into the bellboys!" She called after one especially clumsy third-year who had just collided with a cart full of luggage.

Shaking her head and offering apologies to the hotel staff, Aileen did move a little faster through the lobby, wanting to get to the beach where they'd have more room to act crazy.

When they stepped onto the private wizarding beach, the summer heat was only alleviated by the breeze, and the sand was even hotter. The few students who had ignored her advice about wearing sandals went squealing back into the hotel to fetch some. Several other kids ran straight for the water. Abby hopped around Aileen like a certain hyperactive crup as Aileen picked a spot on the sand to spread out. She laid out her beach towel, shed her cover up (ignoring Abby's joking comments), donned her hat, and then began wrestling with the large umbrella she'd brought.

"Oh, come on, Aileen, you have to go swimming with me! Just leave all of this stuff here!" Abby pouted.

"I will go swimming, Abby. But first, I'm going to read and relax for a bit, if that's alright with you?" Aileen informed her as more of a statement than a question.

"Aw, no!" Abby paused. "Ok, you have to promise me that you're going to go swimming, then scuba diving, then surfing sometime today."

"Yes, yes, and absolutely not." Aileen managed to shove the tip of the umbrella handle into the sand.

"But surfing is going to be a blast!"

"Mmhmm. Watching all of you wipe out is going to be a blast, I'd say. Damn it!" Aileen swore as the umbrella folded in on itself.

Abby giggled, making no move to help her. "Well, feel free to join me when you've decided not to be boring. Ta!"

The younger Reid sister ran off to the water as Aileen finally got settled underneath her new beach umbrella. She leaned back on her towel, opened one of the books she'd brought, and let out a sigh of relief. Peace at last!

That was when a strong gust of wind blew away both her umbrella and the hat off her head. Aileen threw her book down, hopped up, and shielded her eyes against the sun as she watched her hat and umbrella get carried further away. Her wand was stashed somewhere in her tote, and she wasn't about to run after her things like a duffer... where was Abby when she needed her? Oh right, she could hear her laughter all the way from the ocean!

Gah, he was already pink wasn't he?

Philo was last in regiment and set up camp furthest from the lapping shore. A shirt was over his swim trunks (horrible red and white striped things his mother packed for him) with several sunscreen potions seeping through like grease in a chip bag. He could slide down the sidewalk like a dropped bar of soap if he tried.

The essentials from his bag were arranged. A ratty towel stretched out on the beach, books and sandals anchoring the corners. Arlaug by a box of quickly melting Fudge Flies but Philo had stocked several, he'd found the sweets kept the Swear Frog shut up. Cheap hat and sunglasses, the straw hat almost as bad as the trunks.

All this to stay on the beach and not enter the ocean, that salty abomination of water.

The heat was more than what Philo was used to, the hat and glasses not doing enough to shade. If only he had some sticks or something to prop the towel into a lean-to, even a small scrap of shade.

As he stood to scan the beach for shadier spots, Philo's wishes came true. Sort off. When a gust of wind that nearly blew his hat off Philo grabbed at it. Then the top of a beach umbrella bumped into him, knocking the boy askew.

"Wha-?" came a little sound as the umbrella flopped over him. He managed to grab the pole but the pulling force of the runaway umbrella carried him off, his feet doing a little jig to stay upright and not drag along the ground.

Well, there was nothing to be done about it. Aileen started trotting after her umbrella and hat, scooping up the hat by the second try, and then stopping short when one of the younger students grabbed the umbrella. Ah, this was the boy with the swearing frog.

Aileen held back a laugh as the wind started pulling him and the umbrella away, and moved quickly to catch the umbrella from him.

"Thank you, Mr. Falkin," she said with a slight smile, both as an acknowledgment that he'd caught it for her, and a signal that, well, the umbrella was hers!

"I'm afraid these things got away from me," she shook the sand out of her hat and put it back on her head, glancing over where the boy had attempted to stake out a spot on the beach. At Hogwarts, Aileen rarely had reason to interact with the younger years, preferring to leave that adventure to the more motherly professors (Trishna). She wasn't entirely sure how to interact with the second-years in Egypt either, especially because the line between students and professors seemed blurry here (everyone wore swimsuits, everyone got sand up their bum, etc). There were moments when Aileen wished for her professor robes and the authority to dock house points.

But Philo Falkin's only fault, so far, was his swearing frog. Aileen could forgive that.

"It's horribly hot out, isn't it," she said conversationally, glancing at the already sorry-looking hat he held.

"They rent umbrellas at the stand over there," Aileen pointed in that direction. "I'd be happy to get you one for the day."

Otherwise, the pasty kid was going to fry, even with all the sunscreen potions he'd coated on. She could smell the potions from where she stood!

Just when Philo was about to become a human Dirigible Plum, drifting skywards, a professor came and gripped the umbrella too. "Thank you, Mr. Falkin, I'm afraid these things got away from me."

"Oh, you're welcome professor." He remembered that Ms. Reid had given him a sharp look after Arlaug's outbreak after the journey here but he was used to the embarrassment wrought by the bawdy amphibian.

"It's horribly hot out, isn't it," she said.

"Yes," replied Philo, holding a wrist to his forehead to block out the sun. Sweltering weather. He would rather be inside where it was cooler...but given he was going to be facing a month of this he'd better build up some resistance. His folks would probably never say the end of it if he came back not a shade tanner.

"They rent umbrellas at the stand over there, I'd be happy to get you one for the day."

"Oh, thank you very much, Professor Reid." Philo only had the small wad of coins to stretch over the whole trip so outright purchases were going to be rare, if at all. Though his parents might take the money back if he didn't spend it.

"Um..." Philo began. He'd heard Reid was somewhat unapproachable. "Is there a certain process when signing up for Ancient Runes? I mean, the end of next year. I've always wanted to take Runes." It was his favorite subject and he didn't have the class yet. Ever since his brother Foster had tried it a year then junked it, Philo saved his textbook and had taken to self study.

Mr. Falkin's polite manner made a good impression on her, and she wondered where his pet frog got his foul mouth from. Aileen had heard a little about the outgoing Falkin brood, and guessed that perhaps an older sibling had passed the pet down to him.

She told him that he was welcome and not to worry, and began walking back to her spot on the beach so she could fetch her bag (which held, among many other essentials, wizarding coin). Thank Merlin they were in the private wizarding section. That was one reason why she'd offered to get him an umbrella so quickly - no muggles, no concerns over muggle money!

She slung the bag over her shoulder, glancing at him at his hesitant 'um', and arching an eyebrow when he wondered about Runes. A smile flickered across her face. Aileen's heart, sometimes thought to be located underneath the floorboards of her house, warmed just a little.

"At the end of your second-year, your Head of House will call you in for a meeting, and that's when you'll be able to choose electives. Third-years generally take around two electives. Especially industrious students may opt to take more," she gave him a considering look, not surprised if he was among that group.

"I'm glad to hear you're interested in the subject!" Aileen added encouragingly as they walked towards the stand. "Most students don't show an interest until they're actually taking the class and learn more about it." It was a polite way of saying that Runes wasn't exactly popular.

They queued up behind a few other wizards waiting to rent umbrellas, Aileen keeping an eye on her towel from afar. "Has someone in your family introduced you to Runes?"

Philo grinned a bit when he found it was easier talking to Professor Reid than imagined. He'd always had a respectful fear towards the professors (and Storm and Kirchlehner reenforced that respect). It must be a case of staying on her good side and come to think of it much of the disdainful rumors on Professor Reid had come from the troublemakers.

"Oh, right," Philo said when he remembered what the elective process was. Hopefully he would get an appointment in edgewise with Professor Trishna as he could foresee Eirene taking up all the time wanting to take every class.

"I'm glad to hear you're interested in the subject! Most students don't show an interest until they're actually taking the class and learn more about it. Has someone in your family introduced you to Runes?"

"Err, not intentionally," Philo began. "My brother Foster took the elective for a year but dropped it. Didn't sell his textbooks back right away. Earlier editions of Ancient Runes Made Easy and Spellman's Syllabary that wouldn't sell for much. I took to reading them. It's where I got Arlaug's name from, my frog...um, he's sated with Fudge Flies so I don't think he'll be a problem."

Sand got under his feet and he paused to shake it out. Getting back on track: "I know most of the Norse alphabet, some bits of the other runes." An anecdote leapt to mind. "My sister Felicia once brought back a primstav souvenir after studying Norwegian Ridgebacks, although she thought is was a shoehorn."

Aileen looked amused when he told her that he'd named his frog after a rune number. She was tempted to ask whether his pet knew seventeen swear words, but decided against it.

Listening to him describe what he'd learned so far, she nodded her approval. "Did she?" Aileen commented with interest as he mentioned the primstav his sister had brought home. "It's a good thing a dragon didn't turn it to cinders. Perhaps you could bring it with you to Hogwarts in the fall, and I could answer any questions you have," she offered, thinking it might be fun to show to her classes as well.

They moved to the front of the line and Aileen offered a few coins for a beach umbrella, and smiled slightly at the boy, surprised that it wasn't so difficult to talk to a second-year. They were no worse than the third-years, and it helped that he was polite and well-mannered.

"Just remember to return this to the stand by sundown," she handed him the umbrella, which looked like it was taller than he was.

"If you'd like, I could lend you a few copies of books and other materials that the third-years typically study," Aileen told him, since it seemed he'd already read his brother's older textbooks. "I don't believe I brought anything with me here, but after the Egypt trip, I could certainly owl you a package. That is, if you won't be spending too much time climbing trees and running around outside this summer," she said somewhat teasingly, imagining that he'd get more sun in Egypt than he would the entire rest of the year.

"She did," Philo confirmed. "Had it sticking out of her work boots. We just have it there on the mantle, I don't think anyone would mind taking it to school."

They made it to the umbrella stall. "Just remember to return this to the stand by sundown," said Professor Reid, handing him a long on. If the wind was still up he was going to carry it closed.

Philo adjusted to maneuvering the weight of the umbrella. At her other offer he just about dropped it. "Really?" Philo's eyebrows nearly shot his hat off his head again at the prospect of more complete runic books. "I would like that, thank you very much Ms. Reid. I'll be sure to read them and save the tree climbing for my kid siblings."

At the expression on the kid's face, Aileen's eyebrows shot up too, and she held back a chuckle. Leave it to a Ravenclaw to get that excited about reading textbooks over the summer. She was half-convinced some of her older students only used their heavy dictionaries as stepping stools or bug swatters.

"You're quite welcome. There's nothing wrong with reading ahead, and it will probably give you a leg up on your peers. I wouldn't practice any spellwork involving runes until you reach your third-year, however."

Unlike Mr. Falkin, it had taken Aileen years to garner an appreciation for Runes. She'd always done well in the more theory-based classes, but had been easily distracted by the social aspects of Hogwarts. Aileen started walking back with Philo, prepared to help him with the umbrella and then go back to her book, when she noticed something about the set up looked different than before.

"Did some of your things get blown around?" She didn't sound too alarmed, assuming the sand had covered a few belongings, or kids had trampled over them.

Philo had double reasoning for looking forward to the end of the trip. Not just for getting home but Professor Reid's promise of loaning some rune books for the remainder of the summer. "Oh, yes of course," he said to the instruction for not fiddling with runic magic too soon. He did enough things on the fringe as it was.

"Did some of your things get blown around?" Professor Reid said as they got back to their spots on the beach. Philo, nearly toppling at the sudden stop with the large umbrella, looked to where he had set up his towel. It was in a bundle, the weights on the corners turned over.

"Oh no!" Philo cast the umbrella aside and stood over the mess of his towel. At least it hadn't blown away. There were his books, his sandals, a stain from melted chocolate..."Oh dear, where's Arlaug?"

For a few seconds, Aileen continued to look unconcerned as Mr. Falkin exclaimed over his lost frog, holding back a sigh and casting a glance around the sand surrounding them. Her generosity only went so far. After renting an umbrella for the boy and offering to send him books this summer, she'd wanted to return to her own book!

But as she'd learnt from Abby, kids grew attached to their pets, even if those pets were disruptive and loud. At least Roxy the crup didn't swear as she barked! No, she only left presents in Aileen's shoes.

"It'll be alright," Aileen reassured him with a resigned air, checking underneath the crumpled towel first. "He couldn't have gone far."

She put her hands on her hips as she looked around, about to ask the beach-goers nearby if they'd seen a frog, when she remembered the chocolate stain. "He was eating chocolate flies, yes? Did you buy them at one of the stands on the beach? Perhaps he hopped off to find more."

"They're selling Fudge Flies on the beach?" Philo asked, startled. Clearly he needed to look farther then the end of his nose. If he had known that he might not have brought so many from home, but then he would have to spend money on them anyways.

As if on cue from the direction of the stand in question there came a piece of profane profanity. "Either that's him," Philo said hopefully, "or a student just got pinched in the toe by a crab."

Aileen blinked for a second, having said that without thinking. Selling fudge flies on the beach did not make sense. If it were her, she certainly wouldn't have brought flies along with her on a trip, but she also couldn't quite understand the purpose of a swearing frog in the first place. To each their own!

"Let's hope it's the former," she said dryly when Mr. Falkin pinpointed the source of the profanity.

Hurrying over to the stand, she found the frog. It was hopping along the ice cream tubs trying to avoid the irate shop attendant, who waved a scooper at the creature and prattled off his own curses in Arabic.

"There!" She pointed, letting Mr. Falkin make a grab for it.

Philo had a choice word himself when he thought his frog would become a pair of legs besides a dish of gazpacho, but repressed it. After all, that's what he kept Arlaug around for.

"Sorry," said Philo, running up to the cart and rescuing the frog from an attempted stab with spoon. Arlaug's croak of protest matched the foreign mutterings of the ice cream salesman. No doubt the the Swear Frog's vocabulary had increased from the encounter. Hopefully when they got back home he would stick to obscenities no one else would recognize.

"T-Thank you again, Professor Reid," Philo said during his retreat. "It has been windy today. Arlaug has some large leaps in him but he's never gone after ice cream before."

"I suppose there's a first time for everything," Aileen murmured, then offered an apology to the ice cream salesman in stilted Arabic.

"If you have everything you need, I'll be on my way. Do keep an eye on your frog," she raised her eyebrows at the creature, which had ice cream drops all over it. It was the first time that Aileen felt glad Abby had only brought home a crup, who she could forgive more easily for disruptions when it looked at her and wagged her tail. The frog merely blinked at her.

Aileen glanced at the boy, "I would suggest using some kind of sticking charm to secure the umbrella in the sand. Perhaps the frog as well," she added with a neutral expression, making it hard to tell if she was joking or not.

"Have a good afternoon, Mr. Falkin," she smiled slightly and turned away.