Chilly wind rushes in through the door of Cordial Confections as it opens, setting the bell jingling and rustling the wrappers of a few sweets close to the door. The stiff breeze also ruffles the well-groomed curls of Dara Quincy, nearly blown into the shop by the strong gusts. As soon as the door closes behind her, the little girl pauses, giving her fur-edged coat a dainty tug to straighten it, and pats her hair back into place with a small gloved hand. No adult follows her into the shop – as far as can be seen, Dara is alone, and the little girl draws herself up a little straighter as she arranges herself, her expression serious with the consciousness of the great responsibility of her position. But Dara‘s small nose flickers a little wider for a moment, drawing in the enticing scent of sugar and chocolate, and an extremely un-serious light of excitement comes into her eyes as she looks eagerly around. She is, after all, still a child, on her own in a candy shop.

Looking almost harried, Eva makes her way out of the back as the door jingles the arrival of a patron. “Hello, honey, welcome to Cordial Confections!” she spouts cheerfully, though she is sprinkled with flour, and looking a bit unkempt. Her hair, however, is out of her face for once, secured neatly back, in contrast to the rest of her. She puts a tray of cookies into her display case and closes it gingerly before attempting to dust herself off and coming out from behind the counter. It is a quiet afternoon so far, so it seems that Dara will get some personal service. “Is there anything you’re looking for in particular?” Eva grins as she says this, still attempting to dust the flour off of her skirt.

“Oh, good day!” Dara gives Eva a nod, carefully polite and oddly formal, a gesture probably copied from some adult or other. The eager light is still in her eyes, though, and her small shoes click quickly against the floor as she hurries towards the shopkeeper, almost – but not quite – skipping. “I was just looking around, but – oh, do you have any more of the sugar-flowers that you had last week? The pink and yellow ones?” Dara lifts a hand to point, but hastily pulls back from the impolite gesture, tucking her gloved hand into her pocket instead to restrain it. “They were in the front case, over there,” she continues, looking over towards a display case that is preparing for spring: a garden, with mint bluebirds fluttering over spun-sugar grass and chocolate earth – but no flowers. “And they were so lovely! Do you have any more of them?”

“No, unfortunately we haven’t got any of the sugar flowers, though we do have an array of minicakes that have some chocolate flowers on the top. I think Maura is also working on some new sweets for spring, but they won’t be ready today, I’m afraid. Would you like to try a bit of one of the minicakes? I promise they’re excellent.” Eva winks as she says this and crosses her arms for a moment, then uncrossing them, as if she has decided all in this instant not to wait for an answer. She makes her way behind the counter again and extracts the tray that she had previously placed in, putting it down on the counter in front of her. She does not, however, begin to cut one up into small bits yet. “What flavor do you fancy?”

Disappointment crumples Dara‘s face for a moment at the news that the sugar flowers are all gone, but it cannot remain for long – not when the tray of cakes is so close, and Eva’s invitation is so welcoming. “Oh, may I?” Dara cries. The little girl is already pulling off her neat white gloves as she scampers closer, peering with an eager, open-mouthed smile at the huge tray. “Mmmm. . .” she sighs, breathing in the fragrance of the freshly-baked cakes. Dara rises up on tiptoes, balancing with her hands on the edge of the counter – placed very carefully away from the edge of the tray so that she is in no danger of tipping the cakes over. “Is there strawberry? Or peach?”

“I can do one better. How about strawberry peach,” the woman suggests with a grin. She plucks one of the cakes off the tray carefully and cuts a tiny wedge out of it. Reaching down to retrieve a small bit of paper, Eva picks up the bit of cake and hands it to Dara. “It seems to me that you must have been meant to come in here today for this.” Eva winks again and looks around the shop. One adult has come in and is quietly perusing the bins of sweets, so Eva does not leave her smaller patron and instead waits for a moment. “Were the sugar flowers all you came in for?”

“Both?” Dara‘s eyes and smile both widen as she looks down at the cake, and reaches out to take it daintily between two fingers. “Oh, thank you, it’s lovely!” the little girl exclaims. Dara gives the cake one more eager look, but holds politely back, answering Eva’s question instead. “No, ma’am,” Dara replies, giving her head a small shake. “I was just looking, really. Mummy said that I might get some of the sugar flowers because I liked them, but – well – ” She hesitates, then, and leans in, eyes round and serious as she looks up at Eva. “Mummy’s at the jewelry shop, and I think she’s getting me a present,” Dara confides, lowering her voice. “I don’t think she would have asked me to leave while she was shopping, otherwise.”

Apparating right outside of the sweet shop door, the crack and sudden appearance causes a bit of dismay from one of the pedestrians. A muttered curse greets the woman and in turn smiles widely, not at all dismayed. Not returning the gesture with one of her own, she opts instead for stepping into the shop. Astra tugs open the door easily and the sound of chimes reveals her presence. Looking around, she pushes back her hood and begins to remove her gloves as she casually inspects the shop.

“I’m sure your mum will get you something lovely at the shop,” Eva tells the girl with a grin. “I’m glad you like the cake. Will you have one then?” The woman looks up as the door jingles again. “Hullo,” Eva greets the woman. Her face is familiar, though Eva could not place a name to it at this time.

“I hope so,” Dara agrees, with an eager nod that sets her curls bouncing again. Her smile widens even more at Eva’s offer, and she replies, “Oh, yes, thank you!” Holding the cake delicately in her fingers, Dara starts to reach towards the fur-edged pocket of her coat with her other hand, asking politely, “How much, please?” But just then, a loud crash echoes out from the back room of the shop, causing Dara to jump and Eva to say a hasty, “Oh, no, excuse me!” And then the shopkeeper is off, and Dara is left alone at the counter, with a delicate pink cake held in one hand, and her lips pursed quizzically at the place where the shopkeeper used to be.

There is a considered pause and just as she is about to return the greeting, the crash interrupts her thought. Left alone with the child, Astra arches her eyebrows in a concerned sort of fashion and idly begins to walk toward the counter in order to see if she can get any closer to ‘behind the scenes’. Even so, she doesn’t infringe on the owner’s privacy, but instead settles for a small little sigh. “The one day I think I can actually pull myself away for a little while,” muttering to herself, she casts a quirky grin at the girl. “Well it looks like it’s your lucky day at any rate.”

“Pardon?” Dara blinks up at the newcomer, the look of confusion only deepening on her small features as she puzzles out the cryptic comment. And then comprehension dawns for Dara, with a widening of gray eyes and a startled little cry of “Oh! Pardon, ma’am,” she says again. “You meant being left alone with…everything?” A tiny grin comes over Dara‘s face, eager, and with a bit of surreptitious mischief in it, as she looks down at the cake in her hand, and the neat rows of others like it spread out on the tray in front of her. “But – oh, but I should pay for this one before I take any of the others,” she says conscientiously, and more to herself than to the unfamiliar woman. There is no reticence in Dara‘s manner, though – she seems as much at ease speaking to Astra as she did to Eva, without a hint of awkwardness at dealing with an adult.

Tilting her head as she contemplates the child’s words and actions, there again is that silent nature reasserting itself. Finally, she nods and speaks, breaking any awkward tension that might be forming. “You’re quite right of course, you ought to. Not many children would have that kind of willpower. Not many adults for that matter could exhibit the same.” No smile traces her lips and while she speaks firmly there is a note of gentleness to them. “I’m not sure how much they cost, otherwise I’d tell you just to leave a note with some money and throw it behind the counter.” “So,” making idle conversation as she waits for the shopkeep to return, Astra isn’t entirely sure what to say but she doesn’t speak down to the child, “what happens to be your favorite?”

“I don’t know either,” Dara replies, with a serious, regretful sigh at the tantalizing spread of cakes. “She never got the chance to say.” Dara‘s mouth puckers again, frowning worriedly down at the cake that she still holds in her hand – not daring to put it down, but not daring to eat it either, she hovers uncertainly for a moment before turning back up to Astra. “Oh – thank you, ma’am,” Dara says, then, offering Astra a bright, sweet smile as she realizes the compliment a moment too late. “I liked the sugar-flowers – they were in the front case there, with the garden things.” Dara nods towards the front of the store, where there is a display in anticipation of spring – fluttering mint bluebirds, spun-sugar grass, and other spring-themed sweets. “But that’s something new, and they’re all out, anyway. My favorite regular sweet is the Fizzing Whizbee. I like the strawberry ones.” Dara speaks with the earnest intensity of someone discussing a very important topic – but there is still an eager little smile on her face, lit by her enjoyment of the discussion.

“Sugar flowers? They sound like just the thing my daughter might like, or might have liked not so very long ago.” “I imagine they are very good.” Treating the subject with the same sense of intensity even if her own gestures do not follow, Astra trails her fingers just above one of the glass cases. “I was coming by to pick up some things for my own children.” “Tell you what, go ahead and eat that. I’m sure she won’t mind. If you have to leave before she gets back, I’ll gladly pay whatever the cost is. We can’t have you worrying over something so minor as a cake.”

“Thank you very much,” Dara replies, bobbing her head in a polite nod. “But Mummy’s given me plenty of money.” The topic of money causes Dara no more or less worry than does the topic of candy – her tone is perfectly casual and comfortable. “And I think I’ll be here for quite a while. Until Mummy comes to get me, at least.” Despite her self-composure, though, Dara looks down at the cake in her hand with eagerly tempted eyes, and adds, “But if you’re sure that the shopkeeper won’t mind…” A little sparkle rises into her eyes and she takes a bite, her smile curving around the mouthful as she chews it daintily. Carefully swallowing before she speaks again, Dara offers, “The sugar flowers are lovely, and the shopkeeper said that they should have some more next week, if you’d like some for your daughter.”

“Thank you, I will have to put in an order when she returns.” Craning her neck to try to look around behind the scenes, Astra sighs, “If she returns before I have to run off again.” A smile actually tugs on her lips at the child’s first bite at the cake. “What kind is it?” Glancing around to watch the store, but more to keep an eye on the door it is an old habit that hasn’t yet died. “One moment,” Looking down at the child and blinking several times, there is a light frown. “Let me get this right, your mother left you in a store by yourself while she went about her own business?” “I hope she doesn’t do that often. Storekeepers are not here to tend to other’s children and if something should happen,” “Well, you just be careful. There’s a lot of people in the world who aren’t very nice.”

“Strawberry and peach!” Dara declares happily, and lifts the cake to take another bite – but freezes halfway, as Astra’s disapproval begins to make itself known. She listens throughout the grown-up’s speech, eyes widening into a confused blink. “I – I’m sorry,” Dara says, finally – still without much comprehension, but clearly understanding that something is wrong. “Mummy told me to come here while she was in the jewelry shop,” she continues slowly, struggling to explain what clearly seems to make sense to her. “I think she’s getting me a present. I can’t think of why else she wouldn’t want me there.” For the briefest moment, a shadow passes over Dara‘s clear, open expression – but then it is gone, and she continues, “And I will be careful, ma’am,” with an earnest nod. “I wasn’t going to go anywhere except here.”

Chuckling to herself, Astra smiles sharply again and the gesture dies almost as suddenly, not someone who is given to such niceties very often. “Don’t be sorry, you were doing as you were told and of course coming here isn’t such a bad place. Sometimes there are people who worry far too much.” Adding conspiratorially with a thin grin, “Like me.” Getting back onto the main conversation, she tries to steer it back on track, “Strawberry and peach? That sounds mouth-watering.” “Maybe I should pick some of those up as well for an extra surprise.”

“They’re very nice,” Dara replies. The words still come slowly, hindered by the little girl’s lingering confusion and newfound uncertainty, but she can’t be entirely unhappy when there is a cake in her hand and a tray of them in front of her. “If your daughter would like the sugar-flowers,” Dara offers, her smile edging back as she turns the conversation hopefully back towards a happier topic, “then maybe she’d like these, too?”

“Yes, she probably would. Both my children are terribly fond of sweets and their father does send them on occasion, but I tend to ignore such things. However, I’ve been told rather *pointedly* that *other* children get sweets sent to them, sometimes as often as *every day*.” Chuckling again, Astra looks over to case and sighs, “I had a few minutes, so I thought I could come by and pick a few things up to surprise them. Surprises are fun now and again.”

Coming out of the back room again, Eva seems to be covered in a reddish sticky substance. Pulling a bit out of her hair, she seems to be rather displeased. “Sorry about that, ladies,” she tells those in her shop, and shakes her head. “Now, is there anything I can get either of you since you’ve been waiting so long?” she asks them, stepping out from behind the counter and attempting, however fruitlessly, to undo the mess that has become of her apron.

With an “Oh!” that only grows more startled as she sees the shopkeeper’s disheveled, sticky appearance, Dara turns towards Eva again. “I’m sorry – er – how much is this, ma’am?” Dara holds up the cake, now with several bites taken out of it. Her cheeks pinken a little, but the smile that she gives Eva is more apologetic than embarrassed. “And I’d like a few more, if I might?”

Grimacing at the mess, Astra‘s brows furrow upwards. “I hope no one got hurt?” As the child speaks up, she falls silent and waits her own turn. Looking at the display cases, she takes her own time now to decide upon what she wants to order.

Eva quotes the price to Dara quickly, with a bit of a grin and wipes her hands on her now not-so-white apron. “I’ll get those together for you if you’ll place the payment there on the counter,” the woman tells the girl and makes her way behind, pulling out a small box to put the little cakes in. “There were no casualties this time, thankfully. Apparently our licorice root spoiled, though. That’s what caused the explosion.” She chuckles and puts the box out on the counter, awaiting payment.

Too late, Dara realizes the question she should have asked – now, she does look embarrassed, and adds a murmured, “That’s good,” to Eva’s expression of relief at the lack of injuries. The quoted price produces no such uneasiness, though, and Dara reaches into her pocket with the hand that is not holding the cake to pull out several shiny Sickles and Knuts. “Thank you very much, ma’am.”

“I’m glad to hear it was only a mess.” Wandering over to another section of the shop, Astra eyes the displays with longing eyes and then turns back. As the transaction finishes, she steps up but to the side of the girl, not wanting to get in anyone’s way. “I’m really here to pick up a few things for my children, but I’ve been looking at your wares.” “I’m terribly fond of sweets but I’m afraid sugar makes me rather,” pausing to find just the right word, “unmanageable.” “I don’t suppose you make anything sweet that doesn’t use sugars?” “Not that I think such a thing really exists.”

“Not a problem,” Eva tells Dara and puts the amount given into the register. “Is there anything specific that they enjoy?” Eva directs to Astra before the woman’s last question is directed to her. Pausing a moment, the woman seems stumped. “No, in fact, we don’t have any non-sugar sweets.” This fact has Eva‘s brain ticking, though her face appears completely blank for several moments. “What a wonderful idea. For those avoiding sugars… to have…” Her voice trails off and she is silent again for another moment. “I will have to bring that up to Maura!” The woman grins brightly at her patrons and then directs her face to Dara. “Oh, do come again soon. I’m sure we’ll have more sugar flowers shortly.”

“Thank you,” Dara replies, her own smile brightening at the mention of the sugar flowers. The door jingles open again with a rush of wind, and a tall, auburn-haired woman sweeps through. “Dara!” the woman declares in a voice that is not unkind, but definitely used to being obeyed. “Come along, dear.” And Dara follows, giving Eva one last smile, and one last, “Thank you, ma’am!” as she picks up her little box of cakes and heads back outside.

As the child departs, Astra smiles just a little and then returns to the discussion. “I’m glad you think so. It’d be so good to be able to enjoy a real sweet now and again without fear of becoming horribly exuberant.” Grinning to herself, she shrugs. “Ah, as for my children I heard about the sugar flower cookies and would like to order four in advance. If you could send them to me by owl, I’d appreciate that. As for the rest, I’m not sure what they’d enjoy. I suppose a mix of whatever is most popular, I didn’t eat much of it growing up.”

“I’m sure there are more people who have the same situation with sweets as well,” Eva tells Astra, her excitement rising as she speaks. While she is chattering, she walks about the shop, collecting various types of sweets. “How many children is it? Just two, or more than that?” The woman seems to be thinking aloud as she continues without waiting for an answer. “We could have a whole line of sweets, and I’m sure I could do some of the cakes and cookies as well.” The woman stops, her arms full of various types of sweets. “This probably ought to do it.” Eva doesn’t even know how many children she is collecting sweets for, but that doesn’t seem to matter to her as she heads behind the counter again and deposits it all onto said surface.

Laughing openly at the amount of sweets on the counter, Astra isn’t at all put off by the gathering. “Only two, but I’m sure this will make them thrilled. I’ll just dole it out over time so I can remain in their good graces longer.” Grinning, she dips a hand into her coat and retrieves a purse of coins. “I’m very glad that you think it’s a good idea. Honestly, I hadn’t thought of it before coming here again and watching the little girl eat the cake.” “When you manage to come out with the line, you’ll have to send a letter to Hogwarts and let me know. I’ll be one of your first customers.”

“I will be sure to do so. Also, four sugar flower cookies, correct?” Of course that’s correct, Eva, she only just told you. “I’ll box them up and owl them as soon as they’re made, which should be in the next day or two.” Eva grins widely, and despite being covered in sugar residue. “Might I have your name, just so that I don’t send them to the wrong person?” For shame, Eva, not already knowing! She begins to quickly tuck all the sweets evenly into two separate bags — must be fair, after all — and then begins to tally it up onto her register. She soon is quoting the cost to Astra, feeling rather pleasant. After all, she is getting paid.

“Astra Rathe at Hogwarts School,” chattering pleasantly she digs out the needed sum and hands it over to Eva. “I’ll look forward to the news, it’s always a risk eating sweets and it will be absolutely wonderful having something I can eat without fear.” “And yes, four sugar flower cookies. I’ll have to sneak those to my daughter on the side, but I figure the boy wouldn’t want to have anything to do with something like that.”

Depositing the oddly-shaped coins into her register, Eva beams. “I’m sure she’ll love them. Hopefully more for taste than appearance, of course.” Eva winks as she says this and takes out a small box, depositing the two ornate baggies into it. “Here you are, Ms Rathe. I’ll get those two you soon, and I assure you that you will be the first to know as soon as we have created a non-sugar variety of sweets. Perhaps you would even be able to help us test for taste!”

“Thank you so much. The children are going to love these.” Taking the baggies and depositing them into the over-sized pockets of her coat, Astra grins. “Oh! Taste test? That’d be marvelous really,” and as she’s about to continue with some idle chatter something inside one of her pockets begins to chirp incessantly. “I need to run, classes to teach, but do drop me an owl if you’re interested in having me help. I’d be very happy to lend my assistance.” Ushering herself outside quickly, she departs the way she came.

Other Interesting Logs:

• Enabling the Sweets Addiction
• Parker Wexler is Sorted
• Sorting Day from Josie’s View
• A Meeting of Old Friends
• Were Thine That Special Face