She really should have been finishing her ancient runes essay, but Linnet could never resist a trip into Hogsmeade, even if it did seem more crowded than usual. She was wearing her favourite skirt, a long green velvet one paired with a longsleeved black t-shirt and her school cloak over the top. Maybe it was a result of her year at Beauxbatons, but she seemed to feel the cold more than she used to. Having left the Hufflepuff common room rather later than her friends, Linnet was wandering alone, without any particular aim in mind. She would usually head for the bookstore, but studying for five NEWTs had temporarily dulled her usual enthusiasm for reading. Nor was she in the mood for a glass of butterbeer, so she just enjoyed the autumn sunshine, glad to be out of the school for a couple of hours.
A small frown crossed her features when she spotted a group of students teasing a yearmate. She didn't recognise most of them, but the object of their attentions seemed to be one of her fellow Hufflepuffs - but a first year? What were first years doing in Hogsmeade? Were they all meeting parents or something? That had never happened when she was a first year, Linnet thought with a sigh, noting with relief that a woman in lovely green robes had approached the small group of kids and told them not to tease. She pretended not to be watching but instead looked into the window of the apothecary and observed them through the shining glass.
Wait...so the woman was someone famous? Linnet risked a quick glance but remained clueless, and from this distance she couldn't hear what was being said either. The little ones wandered away chattering, their voices high and carrying over one another like a flock of overexcited songbirds, and the woman turned as if to go into Honeydukes.
The sixth year didn't normally like approaching strangers, but on the other hand...she wanted to know who had helped her little housemate and thank them. And, she admitted to herself, she hadn't had a bar of Honeydukes' chocolate since the previous summer, and it would be a great reward for when she finally finished that essay. So, taking a deep breath, she crossed the street and approached the stranger.
"Um...excuse me. I just wanted to say...uh...thanks for keeping an eye out for the first years..." she said, eyes dropping down to her own boots about halfway through the sentence.
