The Streets of Hogsmeade

The street of Hogsmeade

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Diana, Nick and Helena were walking along the street.

"So where's Durwood?" Nicolas asked.

"Off with his friends." Diana said.

"Friends?" Helena said surprised. "I didn't know he had any."

Nicolas laughed heartily at that. Diana rolled her eyes at them both. "Honestly."

"Well they aren't a good lot, let me tell you that." Nicolas announced.

"They seemed all rather nice to me." Diana said quietly.

Nicolas stopped. "Wait... you've met them?"

Diana nodded. "Earlier today."

"You've met them?" Nicolas blinked stupidly.

Diana nodded. "Yes, earlier today, Darien introduced me to them."

"You've met them?" Nicolas repeated.

"Yes. I have!" Diana snapped.

"And they didn't..." Nicolas said. "Well... they didn't... I don't know... try to kill you?"

"No..." Diana said slowly. "As I've said, they were perfectly lovely."

"Are you sure you've met them?" Nicolas insisted.

"YES SHE HAS!" Helena yelled. "Oh my god, honestly Nick, sometimes I see why Vaight has it in for you."

"Where's Darien gone?" Rory asked, as the gang emerged from a shop into the alleyway off the street.

Hector snorted. "He's surfaced apparently. Took your time, I must say."

Dick glanced at the retreating backs of some unimportant ((to the plot)) girls heading down the other end of the alleyway, until Hector tapped him on the shoulder.

"As much as I hate to say I was right..." He nodded his head in the direction of the trio heading up the street.

"Isn't that..." Rory stared intently.

Cook was chewing something... rather loudly too. "Whut?" He said with his mouthful and looking about.

______

"Oh look!" Helena exclaimed pointing at a shop selling shoes. "Boots!"

"No thanks," Nicolas said. "I've done all the shopping I'm going to do today." He raised his shopping bag in a shrug.

Diana bit her lip. "Yeah, I think I have too."

Helena rolled her eyes. "Psh... you two are no fun, no fun at all. I'll just see you in the castle."

And with that Helena headed to the shoe store to do her damage.

"Look!" Hector jabbed a finger impatiently. "It's-"

"Diana?" Rory's jaw dropped.

Dick looked on with an air of professional interest. "Not being particularly subtle are they?"

"Naww..." Cook said squinting his eyes, food still in his mouth. "Dat cont be 'er."

He swallowed. "And if it is her, I'm sure... there's a perfectly reasonable explanation..."

"Blimey is that Nicolas Casillas?!" He exclaimed.

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Not aware they were being observed, Nicolas and Diana continued walking along the street.

"Are you sure Amy would like this?" Nicolas said peeking inside the shopping bag.

"Well," Diana said with a hint of mischief. "If she doesn't you can always give it to me."

"I knew it!" Nicolas turned to her. "You told me to get something you liked!"

Diana looked at him innocently.

"You... you... I don't even know what to call this." Nicolas stuttered in irritation, but he had to admit, he was rather proud of her.

Dick smirked. "I'll remember that in future Cookie; you give her far more consideration than me."

Rory's ears pricked up. Almost literally. "Oh, so that's why Darien's enjoying Hogwarts so much...Shame he's missing this perfect opportunity..."

"I. Told. You. All." Hector interjected petulantly. "See, she was suspicious, I clearly perceived this...connection with the Casillas."

"Like hell you did." Rory snorted. "C'mon, let's go tackle the dozy sods..." He started forwards.

"Wait just one minute there," Cook said to Rory. "Cookie needs more proof than that. Remember what happened the last time we thought one thing and it turned out to be wrong?"

"I mean, it looked like a convincing chocolate cake. Even I, the Cookie, couldn't tell it was wax. That is, after I took bit out of it..."

He spread his hands, "Besides, there could be a billion reasons to why Darien's girlfriend is walking around with his enemy. Potions homework for one... or maybe, he stole her chocolate cake and she's telling him that she wants another cake or..."

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"No, I'm serious Nick, she'll like it." Diana said sincerely.

"And if she doesn't I'll just give it to you right?" Nicolas muttered.

"She'll like it because it's from you." Diana pointed out.

"Yeah, yeah whatever." Nicolas said sully.

"You really like this girl don't you?" Diana observed.

Nicolas looked away. Diana smiled.

"You do, don't you?" Diana said. Nicolas didn't answer but smiled.

"See that's how I feel about Darien, why can't you accept that?" Diana said.

"It's not the same thing." Nicolas countered.

"How is it not? It's exactly the same thing!" Diana replied.

"Amy is not a Vaight." Nicolas pointed out.

"Honestly? You're going to pull that again?" Diana said folding her arms. She glared at him.

Nicolas sighed. "D, me and Vaight... well, how do I put this delicately? We don't like each other. No, we hate each other. I would go as far as to say we loath each other. So, you dating him, being who he is, and being who I am, well it just wrong. It would be weird if I don't disapprove."

Diana dropped her arms. "But couldn't you just..."

"Look, you're my cousin, what you want is important to be too. So, all I can promise is that I'll try to stop interfering with the two of you. Alright? That's all I can do." Nicolas said.

Diana smiled and hugged him. "That's fine."

Dick laughed. "There are also another million reasons why she could be with him...unrelated to chocolate cake."

Rory was raring to go. "C'mon! Who cares if it's not what we think, it's still an excuse to-"

"Brawl?" Hector's tone was full of disdain.

"Coward." Rory snapped, starting forwards.

"Hey!" Cook exclaimed, spitting out the current food in his mouth so he could speak properly. "They're hugging!"

"See! I told-"

Hector's smug speech was cut off by Rory. "Any more proof needed Cookie?"

Without waiting for an answer, he lunged forwards, but Dick grabbed his arm. "Let's think about this, shall we?"

"What's to think about?!" Rory protested.

Cook was fuming. "No proofs necessary lads, I think we have all we need here."

He turned to Dick. "Yeah Dick, what is there to think about?"

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"Well we should probably head back to the castle now." Nicolas said.

"Yeah that's probably a good idea." Diana agreed. And they started walking back toward Hogwarts.

Dick paused. "...Perhaps it would be better if we told Darien. He's the interested party after all."

Rory fumed. "I'll show them how damn interested I can be!" He lunged forwards, but Dick pulled his arm, and Hector jabbed him, rather pathetically, but jabbed him all the same.

"I agree with Richard. And after all, I have already been right once today." Hector smirked slightly. "Besides, where's the dignity in four versus one?"

Rory lashed out wildly. "Screw the dignity! I'll kill him!"

((Okay, Conquistadors jumping in! XD))

The door to Honeydukes burst open and four lads immediately rushed out. They, of course, were some of the Durmstrang lot... particularly those belonging to the clique known as The Conquistadors. In order, they were: Boris Kaminski, Baltasar Zabat - also known as Balt... or "Baltman" if you even so much as mention superheroes in passing, "Dolf" Kaiser, and Marco Manici. Much chatter and horseplay ensued in their rambunctious trip back into the streets of what was generally a peaceful magical village.

'Generally' being the keyword there...

"So, where to now? The Shrieking Shack? Bet Dolf would love that! Whatcha think?" asked Balt in an excited rush, flinging an arm rather roughly about said wizard's shoulders.

"We should probably head back to the castle. Maybe if we hurry we can beat them back and have a 'surprise' ready for them..." Marco suggested, referring to their archrivals which had also come along for the tournament.

"Or, better yet, ve could visit Nick and plot a little surprise for our... classmates... just like old times," Boris laughed, pointing to the other Conquistador founder just up ahead. He knew the girl with Nick was none other than Diana, but didn't specify her identity.

Balt glanced up immediately from trying to get Dolf to fall for a Zonko's product's gag effects at the mention of Nick. "Hey - it is 'Hades'! I'm all for that! But who's the girl? ... Ah, to heck with it - last one there's a cuddly, de-clawed chimera!" and with that he gave Dolf a playful shove and took off at top speed.

Needless to say it didn't take much for the others to follow...

"Hey - where've you been all day, Nicky?!" Balt asked once he was directly behind the Gryffindor, immediately clasping a hand on the outermost shoulders of Nick and Diana and - thinking they were boyfriend and girlfriend - pushed them slightly so they were now quite close together. Obviously, in his excitement he'd completely forgotten to check to see who got there first.

"Don't mind him... he only ate about ten pounds of sugar back at Honeydukes..." Marco commented with a roll of his eyes and a slight laugh. None of the others could really talk, considering what they'd bought and sampled while in the sweetshop.

"Vos it ten? I lost track after about five..." Boris teased, earning a glare from Balt, then set his dark chocolate eyes on Nick. "Thought it vos about time to get the troops up to Zonko's... our 'supplies' vere getting low." Boris glanced at Diana but didn't say anything, considering he'd failed rather miserably in trying to form a relationship with her during the Yule Ball. He doubted she knew he'd been watching his best friend's worst enemy and her kissing before they'd decided to take it indoors... and he was all for keeping it that way unless absolutely necessary. He'd told Nick, but that was about as far as it got from the Russian's lips.

Boris did have a reputation to uphold as a ladies-wizard, after all...

Rory's eyes gleamed. "Our luck must be good today."

"Well..." Hector was reluctant to get involved in anything which might result in creased trousers.

"What's the problem, you spineless wimp?!" Rory turned on him, sneering. "Not even enough for you?"

"Well...I..." Hector stammered, spluttering as he searched for some sort of excuse.

Dick glanced at Cookie. "What do you think, Cookie?"