Magnus' bowed his head, "I'm sorry. I'll shut my gob." He felt awful for upsetting Sam and then everyone was enamoured with Paddy's puppy. But between the griffin scare and now feeling bad for mentioning homesickness he didn't feel like socializing at that moment. "There's nothing I need 'ere. I'll meet you all at Tomes and Scrolls." He said and promptly left the store. He thought of leaving Hogsmede all together but he had nothing for his dad yet. Since his mother made Quidditch supplies he didn't really need to go there and might run into an adult that knew him. He wiped a stupid tear from his eye and kicked the snow as he rushed towards the bookstore. Maybe he needed to get a calming potion? Certainly it was getting close to the full moon.

At the bookstore he busied himself looking at all the wonderful books. Soon he had a very large pile of books. He found a gift set for his dad about famous Auror's and Unspeakables through the ages. Climbing into one of the comfy chairs he picked up one of his books and started reading. He'd pay for everything when the rest of them met up with him, but for now he just needed to immerse himself in a good story.

. ((ooc: Sorry he'd already left the pet store.))

"Sami? Hmmm. those ears'll likely stand up and she'll look like a fluffy white wolf herself. I've been reading up on dogs after our last magical creatures meeting, you wouldn't believe the things muggles have dogs do for them." Sam looked around, noticing Magnus had vanished. "Speaking of magical creatures, where'd Magnus go? He was acting like he wasn't well a minute ago. Don't know if he coming down with pneumonia, of if something at the pet store's got to him. Hope it isn't too close to the full-moon or something like that. I'm gonna go look for him. If they can't handle me in studded leathers at the ball, too bad so sad. I don't know how to dance anyways"
She grinned at Paddy, remembering that Magnus had mentioned he liked to read and wanted to get some more books.
"Book store!" she exclaimed, then whirled and bolted out of the shop.
Tomes and Scrolls was easy to find, just a bit further down the street. Less easy to find was Magnus himself. Sam had just about decided that she had guessed wrong, when she spotted him in a deep easy chair surrounded by books. Slipping quietly off to the counter, she asked the shopkeeper for a particular book. When he pulled a lavishly illustrated coffee-table book down from a high shelf, she nearly emptied her pouch to pay for it. then tiptoed back to where Magnus was engrossed in his book. "Hey there McWolf. Thought you might like to see what I was talking about." Sam said, smiling as she set the huge book, American Deserts, A Witch-eye view, on the arm of Magnus' chair.

He'd been so engrossed in his book, Tall Tales of Hijinks, Mayhem and Overall Up-to-no-goodness, by George Weasley, he about nearly yelped when Sam spoke.
"Good lord woman," he said holding his chest, "'bout need ta get me ta a healer with that kinda start." He was chuckling though and touched that she had come to find him. No one really ever had before. The front cover was amazing alone. "Wow, its like a sand ocean." He hefted the tome and opened the book with reverent touch. Books where his treasures. He wondered if he might need to put a book or four back to buy the amazing book she was showing him. After two pages of soaking in the amazing scenes he looked at his friend and throwing caution to the wind said, "sugotatheballwithme?" Realising that even his London accent whilst sometimes a bit thick this sentence wasn't intelligible at all. "Would you go to the ball with me?" he repeated. "Fancy dress ain't really me thing but it could be fun and all date like... or as a friend if that don't suit ya."

"I can just imagine you going to the ball in studded leathers, Sam" Paddy laughed, "if I can't find anything in the next 5 minutes though, I'll just wear something I brought with me." She didn't like to mention that she hadn't ever been to a dance like that before, but she hadn't even been to the discos her previous school had run. A ball sounded so formal though, that it needed a decent outfit, even just to detract from her lack of dancing skills.

She went back to looking through the dresses as Sam ran off to catch up with Magnus.

()

(OOC: sorry , I thought everyone had already left the pet store, so Paddy's gone onto the next one 😊)

Sam blinked, taken aback. "I..,I'd love to" she stammered. "Gotta warn ya tho, I don't know how to dance and my idea of fancy dress is rhinestones on my leathers."

[img align=left]http://i.imgur.com/JUzZSfU.png[/img]"Nothing, really. I'm too picky with clothes. helped me find the perfect dress last time," Beth said as she continued to look through the racks of dresses.

Beth didn't get the chance to wave goodbye to Magnus () as he suddenly ran out of the store or Sam () as she ran after him. She wondered if he was feeling okay.

She turned to the others, and asked, "Have you found anything you like yet?" ( )

"I've never been to a Ball before, so I dunno what kind of thing to go for," Paddy replied, still staring at the dresses. "I don't want to look out of place."

"I reckon ya'll look lovely. Never been ta anything fancy meself. But I can teach ya a few dances. I know 'ow ta fox trot, waltz and a couple 'o fast dances. Learnt one summer cos they offered a course an' I was bored. Rather popular after that cos all the little girls at the orphanage wanted to dance." He scooted over to give her room. "You know, gonna 'ave ta get this book, its amazing. Would ya like ta look with me, tell me about your world?"

[img align=left]http://i.imgur.com/JUzZSfU.png">/img "I love the theme for this Ball. You can dress up as your favorite fairy tale character or dress up as one would dress during the time the fairy tale takes place. Do you have a favorite fairy tale or character?"

Paddy tried to resist the temptation to say the wolf from Red Riding Hood. "I've not really got a favourite fairy tale, but I'm sure I'll think of something."

[img align=left]http://i.imgur.com/JUzZSfU.png[/img]"There are so many great fairy tales. It's hard choosing one," she told . She continued to look through the racks.

"It would also be fun to coordinate with friends. You can all dress up as characters from the same fairy tale."

"Now that would be a neat idea, Beth ()" Paddy replied, as she wondered what fairy tale her friends would pick.

Since she had herself a gorgeous new pair of gloves, Cardamom joyfully spent her time thumbing through the different racks to see if there was anything that caught her fancy. Maybe something orange or yellow to brighten up the cold winter days.

She overheard and talking about the upcoming ball, "I thought about going as witch from the Gingerbread story - the one that tries to eat the kids, but I guess it wouldn't really be a party-worthy costume," she admitted to them. Realizing how it might sound, she added quickly, "Not that I want to eat kids... I just really like sweets..."

Millie was still talking to the little hedgie when she looked up and saw everyone had already moved on. "Oh..." she thought to herself. She bid farewell to the hedgie and quickly paid for the cat treats. "I think they went to the Gladrags. I hope they are still there." As Millie rushed to the store.

Millie walked into the Gladrags and was relieved to see most of the group still there. She quickly saw a cute white blouse that would look nice with her good dress pants and shoes.

She walked up to the group and said, "I was thinking of going as Rapunzel. I'm just unsure what color dress I should get... Ohh I have an idea that reflects off of Beth's idea. What about the Twelve Dancing Princesses?"

(ooc- sorry for the delays. I started school on Monday and haven't had a lot of time to sit and mess on subeta)

"Did someone say they need help with the ball!?" Gaia had run in the store after being sidetracked by some Hufflepufs outside. "I am here! Who needs my help? I also need to stop to get some Quidditch gear." Gaia smiled at her friends noticing a dress way in the back of the store.

( )

"You could just always want to eat gingerbread children," Paddy said with a smile (), "and I reckon Rapunzel sounds perfect, Millie ()." She was pleased that her friends had some ideas, but tried to not let her lack of inspiration show. Just as she was about to give up and move onto the next shop, ran into the store and was immediately pounced on by the puppy who obviously realised there were dog treats in her pockets. "I need some help," Paddy said, "I'm not really all that clued up on fairy tales."

()

Gaia gave the puppy a treat and headed towards Paddy "You have come to the right place!" Gaia cracked her knuckles and flexed a little. "Tell me what kind of things you like and I will look for options. You can try them in front of the mirror over there." Gaia pointed at the 3 sided mirror with two across from it.

Paddy laughed at the sight of limbering up as if she was ready for a Quidditch match. "I don't normally wear dresses, but I guess I'd better make an effort," she said, pulling a face, "erm, I guess fairy tales are all those kind of 'happily ever after' stories, but I don't like those weak female characters who don't have any real strength to them." Paddy glanced around the shop before adding "that doesn't really narrow it down too much, huh?"

() "It kind of does. I am half-muggle after all!" Gaia laughed while gliding to an area with dresses. "Tell me what colors do you prefer?" Gaia yelled over her shoulder.

"I'm a true Gryffindor, so red, but also purple are my favourites, but nothing green" she called out as disappeared into the middle of a rail of dresses.