A Shelter from the Sun

[Starlit Night]

Starlit walked through the streets of Hogsmaede. It was sweltering outside, everywhere you looked people were gathering in the shade.

Reaching into her shorts pocket she pulled out a long black ribbon and tied her straight hair up into a messy ponytail to keep it from bothering her.

She had stopped to look in a shop window when she caught her reflection in the glass. Noticing that her face was turning red from a sunburn she said to herself. "I guess I had better get inside then," and began to look around for a place to go.

She ended up at the Three Broomsticks. Entering the slightly colder building she ordered a cold butterbeer and sat down at an empty table.

Sipping the drink slowly and gratefully she wondered why this place was the only place in Hogsmaede that she ever really went to. Considering finishing off the butterbeer and going exploring around the village she took one look outside and decided it might be a better idea to stay in for a bit longer and avoid getting sun stroke.

[Cherry]

A bead of sweat ran down the side of Cherry's face as she finished her ice cream. "Gods, is it hot out here!" She said to herself. Her long, darkish hair just attracted the heat and she had nothing to put it up with. She looked around to see most people were in shady corners, fanning themselves. No one would allow enough space for Cherry to join so she ran into the Three Broomsticks, whiping away the sweat. There were no more empty tables and only one had less then two people at it, so she walked up to it timidly. "Um..excuse me, could I join you? All the other tables are taken..."

[Starlit Night]

Starlit was still looking out the window and absently sipping her butterbeer when out of the corner of her eye she saw somebody approaching her table.

"Sure I don't mind at all." she answered motioning to the the empty chair on the opposite side of the table. It wasn't particularly an un-common occurrence for the bar to be crowded. Especially on a sunny day like it was.

"I'm Starlit Night, or Star for short." This was her usual way of introducing herself. Nothing to elaborate.

"It is a nice day don't you think." She commented even though she would have preferred it if there was at least a bit of a breeze blowing.

Starlit took the last few sips of her butterbeer and set the mug back down on the dark colored wood table.

[Cherry]

A nice day?? Cherry thought incredulously. No wind, no shade, blazing sun... "Um..yea, a very nice day, borderline too nice of a day." She said cheerfully. "Oh, my name is Cherry, nice to meet you, Star." Taking a seat, she looked around for someone to order a butterbeer from. She finally got one and sipped it slowly, savoring the flavor.

[Starlit Night]

"Nice to meet you too Cherry," Star said in as friendly of a tone as she could manage on a day like today.

"I agree on the borderline too nice of a day though. I think if we set a big pot of water out there for about five minutes we could boil a lobster," she said this with the slightest hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Starlit watched as people came in and out of the bar. It seemed busy today. I wonder if any of the other places in Hogsmaede are this crowded.

[missy]

Missy was sweating. She had already tied her semi-long hair back in a messy bun but it was still falling onto her neck. "I need to get out of the sun" she thought to herself. She looked around and decided on the Three Broomsticks. As she walked she felt slightly cooler. As she looked around for an empty table she spotted her friend Cherry. "Cherry, hey!" she said waving to her friend.

[Cherry]

"Hey, missy! Nice to see you around here, whatcha doin' out here?" Cherry patted the empty seat next to her, hoping to god that Starlit wouldn't mind if Missy joined them. "Hot, isn't it?" She fanned herself crazily to make her point.

[Starlit Night]

Starlit smiled in a friendly way at Missy, "I take it your name is Missy then? I'm Starlit Night, but most people call me Star since it is shorter. It's a weird name I know, but oh well.

She suppressed a laugh as Cherry fanned herself madly just to make a point.