⦂ basement

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：vic rose。⁰⁴ @－ ❛ ʜ ❜：henri knight。⁰⁴ He couldn't believe his eyes. The way Orion swiftly snatch away his jewelry away from his hands got him surprised at how swift the bird can be. The hufflepuff didn't know how to feel from the feathered animal to his house mate. Should he be confused, angry, upset? It didn't sit well in his category but he decided against all three options and decided to laugh. It was a sudden choice of action after his frantic searching. "If it was anything, you really caught my attention there and Orion..." Joshua looked towards the bird and motioned his hand for him to give the bracelet back. "...did a good job in aiding through that strategy. I'd give those credits to him." Joshua looked at Henri and whispered an 'I'm sorry' after thinking it was he who stole his bracelets. He looked at Vic with a smile. "I'm glad that you're honest with me and I appreciate the thought." He stared back at Orion then back to Vic. "Is he going to continue stealing my stuff until we became friends? It doesn't take me a long time until I'll agree. I don't mind getting to know more people such as yourself, Vic."

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ @－ ❛ ʜ ❜：henri knight。⁰⁴ Vic stared in horror as Jacob reached for his bracelets and recognised them, with his heartbeat in his ears the shy Vic turned to Henri in an attempt to hide behind him. He grabbed on Henri's sleeve, of course his friend was right and Orion had took them. Whilst the feathered thief spoke for Vic as if the two could communicate without words and the bird flew down to grab a bracelet. Afterwards, he perched on the bed and played with the bracelet before looking at Jacob. Vic had no idea how to explain this, sure Orion stole them but Vic stuffed them into his own pillowcase. It looked suspicious any way you looked at it. He stammered, his nerves made it difficult for him to talk. "I'm so sorry, you have to believe me it wasn't on purpose... I just... Orion... took them, he likes shiny things, you see. And he really loves your bracelets." Vic squeezed Henri's arm, "I was just going to hide them and put them back later so... so you wouldn't think terribly of me... He wants more friends and... treats..." Vic forcefully exhaled, shaking from having to speak so much. "I think they're beautiful... But I wasn't sure where they came from so I hid them to protect them... You can report me if you want to..." He sighed, lowering his head in shame.

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：vic rose。⁰⁴ @－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ Curiously Henri watched the chaos unfold before his own two eyes. He had wanted to say that maybe Cassi had sneaked away from of the bracelets as she really enjoyed sneaking his own jewelleries away from time to time but then Orion had decided to turn into the loud bird he was, jumping away from Henri's shoulder and towards the pillowcase. He blinked surprised, confusion, before he laughed amused and shook his head amused. "No wonder you acted a little odd," he said to Vic and looked at Orion. "You too." He hummed amused and picked the bracelets up, handing them back to Jacob. "They are quite pretty, yeah," he hummed and looked at them. "Did Cassi hide them there? Or Orion?" he asked and looked from one animal to the other and then back at his two friends. It would not be the first time one of their pets had caused some trouble like this.

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：winifred rhee。⁰¹ "You have gained a lot of courage to ask them a favor to help you out prepare this. For that, I am proud of you for your own efforts. I'll take up on that opportunity in asking them to help me prepare a simple treat and maybe I could share some to you if I get the chance?" From his creations of simple jewelry, it wouldn't be fun if he didn't share what he just made towards a few friends of his including Winifred who suggested the wonderful idea to him. "I'll try and do that. Use my communication skills to great works along with my non-existing charm." A cough left his lips after his confident remark, slowly growing shy.

"I was about to suggest our nearest shop here but I remembered Pooh is something muggles would know." He chuckled softly "Really? I'm glad to hear that you think my skills are quite pleasant. Thank you again for another cup of tea. How I wonder I never have tasted this from the very start." It took him quite an amount of time until he finally gave in to the sweet aroma of tea. Thus, he is glad he approached Winifred until they came into the discussion of tea. "What are your favorite colors?" He spike up the topic randomly after the mention of beads and bracelets.

[] doing fine, just a bit busy hhhh

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：vic rose。⁰⁴ @－ ❛ ʜ ❜：henri knight。⁰⁴ The hufflepuff wasn't that big of a reader than most of the people be became friends with. Jacob decided to ignore the fact of the page being torn as asked from Vic and turned towards the real problem at hand instead. "Alright, I'll start my search at one of the desks here if you guys don't mind." The male moved towards one of the drawers and slid them open to check if there was any sign of the jewelry anywhere. They never held a high amount but they do hold a high sentimental value. "Oh!" Jacob ducked his head while his eyes moved following the direction of the raven that almost hit his head. He blinked. Aren't those his...? The hufflepuff hate to assume but instead he ignored everything else and approached the pieces of gems falling towards the wooden floor. He can't just be the thief now could he? "They're very pretty and rare since I tried to make a different combination... were they that alluring to you, Vic?" He wasn't angry but just simply held a small smile across the features of his face. An apology should be sent to Henri once he gets this information cleared up from Vic.

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ @－ ❛ ʜ ❜：henri knight。⁰⁴ Vic faltered when Jacob mentioned the bracelets, though he tried to keep his expression schooled into being neutral. He couldn't have his dorm mates think that he was a thief because they would hate him for it, surely? He inhaled a deep breath and tried to relax, Jacob was incredibly sweet it was hard for Vic to look at him and not want to beg him for forgiveness. He gulped and started to search the room, "Never mind the book. Let's help you look for the bracelets, if you're sure they were here we can find them together, hm?" Vic stared back at his bunk bed, knowing the bracelets were stuffed in his pillow. If he could just avoid them and search everywhere else perhaps it would soothe Jacob's suspicions for now and Vic could return them later. But Orion wasn't having any of it, he flew over to Vic's bed and pecked at the pillowcase which caused several of the bracelets to fall out onto the floor. Vic froze, his breath still as the bracelets made a crashing sound against the hardwood floor.

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ “i promise you, they won’t mind at all,” she reassured him. “they’re awfully patient and quite easy to talk to, and this is coming from someone who’s a bundle of shyness and nerves wrapped in a yellow and black scarf.” the house-elves had been looking out for her since her first year at hogwarts. from the numerous times they helped her navigate the confusing stairways to teaching the art of food charms, she reciprocated their kindness with her own kind gestures and gratitude. “hmm, try to find a segue into asking them for help. perhaps approach them after dinner and tell them your favorite part of the meal. they do love a good compliment! that was how i got them to teach me the charm for making scones.”

she grinned, her eyes twinkling in amusement. “you have winnie the pooh pajamas? that’s adorable! i wish i had a pair so i could truly live up to my nickname,” she chuckled. jacob was shaping up to be a very interesting person, full of unique charms and kind smiles. it was going to be fun to learn more about him as their friendship grew. “it is a big deal though! it takes a lot to put yourself out there, even if it’s random small talk. you’ve got a skill that many would love to have.” she smiled, taking out the strainer once she deemed the tea ready and pushed the teacup back to him. “you’re welcome. and you should! you can always make a trip out of it and visit some fun shops like weasleys' wizard wheezes!”

[] i missed you too! and yes, i'm doing alright now. hope you are as well <3

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：winifred rhee。⁰¹ "Taking the statement that I just told you right off my mouth, I see." He loved to learn something new and gain new hobbies from them even if he is busy with academics. Perhaps, giving himself another hobby in regards to baking or cooking special treats could do him a number or two. Besides making bracelets, he could make treats for his friends just like how he observed Winifred and her tea brew. "I'll give it a try once I'm free. This makes a good opportunity to explore on something new besides from what I know while I can still do it. Although, I might feel a bit embarrassed for talking the house elves and their time just to help me. Hopefully, they don't mind me asking."

"Winnie the pooh. I almost thought of that ever since I heard of your name. Reminds me of the cartoon character I loved since I was a kid until now... I kinda still have my winnie the pooh pajama pants in my dorms. Always wore them ever since." The size was too big when he was 15 years old but after a few years he's grown to it until it fit him. Jacob let out a short laugh, he covered his mouth before having his focus wonder back towards their topic. "It's not that big of a deal. I just... put myself out there and talk in random. Besides talking about the weather of course. That's old topic for me." Jacob's eyes wondered through Winifred's tea making as he watched in awe. "Thank you and I will check it out once I have the time."

[] issok, i missed u! hope you've been doing alright!

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ she nodded her head in agreement as she dalloped another helping of jam and clotted cream onto her scone. “they always put so much care and effort into their cooking. we truly are spoiled here at hogwarts!” with the hufflepuff basement right near the kitchens, she had the privilege of witnessing the house-elves in action. they were truly the unsung heroes of hogwarts, helping it function smoothly as it could on a daily basis. learning from them was truly a humbling experience. “in my opinion, no but i’m also quite well-versed in food charms and baking in general. you should try it still, perhaps even ask one of the house-elves to show you how to make them. like you said earlier, challenging yourself with something new is always a good thing.”

winifred shrugged sheepishly. “of course! i can even give you a rundown on all of them. the most obvious is winnie or wini without the “e” and then there’s freddie. the one he guessed is the same name as a certain yellow bear with a love for honey, winnie the pooh!” she scrunched her nose in mirth. it was such an endearing nickname, one that she grew to appreciate as she got older, a reminder of simpler times. “you both have a very admirable trait being able to meet and connect with new people. if you have any tips, i’d love to hear them.” noticing his empty tea cup, she put fresh tea leaves in the strainer before gesturing to his cup. “let me refill that for you.” grabbing it, she repeated the same tea making process as before. “your cuppa should be done in a few. and you should definitely check it out and haggle yourself a good price! honestly, i love perusing the shops even if i don’t end up with any purchases since the experience is always magical.”

[] super sorry for the delayed reply :( i appreciate your patience immensely <3

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：vic rose。⁰⁴ @－ ❛ ʜ ❜：henri knight。⁰⁴ ( SH ) "I lost the handmade bracelets I've been making." The male hufflepuff hummed in thought trying to process which location it could've been misplaced. There was only one area in his room he knew he left it and was completely certain of it. Jacob smiled at the thought of Vic taking an enjoyment for reading books. "That's nice- Oh, paper?" He had to ask what kind of paper in hogwarts caught the other's attention. Surely, he knew of the different and unique features when it came to the school in comparison to the materials from the muggle world but since he believe neither Henri and Vic knew more than he did he allowed Vic to explain. It seemed like a poor attempt in trying to move the conversation but he paid no mind and supported the odd interaction between Vic and Orion. "That, was a page from a library book though. Not exactly a letter to be passed out to someone." The male pointed out before looking between Vic and the bird. He seemed tense but couldn't figure out the reason why.

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ @－ ❛ ʜ ❜：henri knight。⁰⁴ ( SH ) Vic stared between Henri and Jacob, now that everyone's eyes were on him he felt self-conscious. Henri was very sweet and persistent in bothering Vic, though sometimes he found himself enjoying it. Whilst Jacob was a casual friend, someone far too warm and charismatic for the shy Vic to tolerate for long, despite the fact that Vic looked up to Jacob and admired him too, something they apparently had in common. Vic often found himself hiding away from his fellow housemates, but right now he couldn't. It would be too obvious and only bring him more unwanted attention, he squeezed the hem of his sweater between his hands, the tension from what he'd done started to make him feel nauseous. It wasn't exactly his fault, surely they would understand? "Yeah, I love studying, I love books." He panicked and said the first thing that came into his head instead of telling the truth, "The paper is... really good here..." He wanted to mentally facepalm himself for that, but he had to run with it now. "And, of course, I'm upset with Orion because he's, uh, late for a letter I need delivering now. Here." Vic tore out a page from his library book and waved it in front of Orion who refused to budge from Henri's shoulder.

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：vic rose。⁰⁴ @－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ A pout was clearly seen on Henri's lips as he heard Jacob's words. He didn't see it as an accusation but he also wasn't exactly happy. "I really didn't do anything. You know I don't touch your things without asking." Especially not ever since they had broken up. After all he did not accidentally want to offend his friend. "What are you missing though? Maybe you can use my stuff though if you want to?" He looked from Vic who came in as well back to Jacob and tilted his head. "Maybe you misplaced it." He then blinked surprised, feeling Orion sit on his shoulder. Gently he rubbed the animal's feathers, a soft smile on his lips. He couldn't tell why Orion had decided to come to his shoulder but it felt really nice, rubbing his head against him. He heard a soft meow from his bed as he saw Cassiopeia jump from the mattress and walk over, wanting attention too. He eventually picked up his cat, careful enough not to bother the bird on his shoulder. He loved the attention he was getting from Vic's pet however he noticed that something wasn't exactly right. Yet this was not for him to decide. If Vic wanted to talk about it, that was okay, if not he didn't mind either.

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：winifred rhee。⁰¹ “They really have done a number in these treats we have to eat today. I’m quite impressed just as always.” Jacob smiled and took another piece of his scone, taking a bite while he was at it. He reserved this day for a brief event between a new friend sharing food with each other. Every moment has its own time. He mustn’t take the chance of slipping off from his line of thoughts during this event. “Are these hard to make? I’m quite open to new hobbies while I have the chance here. It’s great to explore new things and challenge ourselves to our limits, you know?” The hufflepuff asked with a small smile painted around his features.

“Childhood nicknames? Could I have the chance of hearing one of them, perhaps?” Jacob had a few nicknames himself given by his friends. The professors refer to him as his name, Jacob. Nothing unique, but enough to grab his attention whenever he’s called to recite a spell in class. “A small world indeed. Although, I believe he enjoys meeting new people as much as myself.” Jacob was one to meet new people. He gains a few connections far and close where he treasures deeply about. “Ah, really? I’ll take a quick visit and check them out. Hopefully, they are worth the price.” He chuckled a bit before sipping his tea. A frown appeared on his face upon realization of his tea cup empty. “Sounds like the perfect plan and- I’m out of tea from my cup now.” He laughed a bit.

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ winifred could sense a shift in her friend’s demeanor. it was like his mind had wandered for a bit. the curtness in his answer regarding his parents was noticeable, and the sudden change in topics even more so. still, she had just met jacob and the last thing she wanted was to pry or make him feel uncomfortable. it wasn’t like she had the most ideal relationship with her own parents; far from it… but she didn’t want to dwell on that while spending time with someone else. “they are quite scrummy, aren’t they? i can’t take all the credit for making them. the house-elves were very generous with their tips and tricks for making the perfect scones.” the hufflepuff had felt honored that they were willing to share some of their secrets in the kitchen with her.

“thank you, jacob! i truly do appreciate your kind words. now i feel even more motivated to pursue the endeavor of making tea.” she nodded her head in agreement. “i agree, he’s very interesting to talk to. he accurately guessed one of my childhood nicknames and he has a penchant for flowers. what a small world that we both crossed paths with him.” for the longest time she felt like hogwarts was massive, overwhelmingly so. she felt incredibly proud of herself that she was finally connecting with fellow hufflepuffs and people outside her house. “hm, i bet there’s a shop in diagon alley or hogsmeade that sells beads. once you have more material to practice on, you’ll be an expert jeweler in no time,” she suggested. if there’s one thing she loved to do, it was encouraging others. she chuckled with him. she could relate completely. “it’s easy to acknowledge good habits; however, it’s hard to put them into practice. and you’re welcome! perhaps we can start practicing some self-care together and keep each other accountable.”

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：vic rose。⁰⁴ @－ ❛ ʜ ❜：henri knight。⁰⁴ The lingering thought he had in mind had itself stuck through his system. "Henri, I'm fully aware you, Mint and a few others like to play pranks." He knew the two males all too well from their silly behavior. His features were soft with a hint of stress in them once he saw another member of their house emerge. Jacob was familiar with Vic. He never had the chance to talk to him except for that one time in social media and now this instance. The male seemed to be as busy with academics as he is but it never phased him at how dedicated he was. "Ah, you guys were chilling? Sorry, I don't mean it as an insult but you're just very focused on studying it looked admirable." Jacob watched Orion perch on top of Henri's shoulder and gave it a small wave before turning his attention back towards both of the hufflepuff present in the room. "Are you guys sure the both of you haven't seen it?" He noticed Vic seeming to be agitated about Orion making him chuckle. "I guess you have some sort of dynamic with Orion. You seem angry with him, why?" His eyes traveled from Orion relaxing on Henri's shoulder to Vic.

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ @－ ❛ ʜ ❜：henri knight。⁰⁴ Upon hearing his name Vic froze, luckily he was able to stuff the bracelets he'd found back into his pillowcase before Jacob had walked into the dorm. He'd just spoken with Henri who was all heavy lidded and sleepy so it was easier to hide things from him. But it wasn't like he wanted to steal them he'd simply planned on returning them once the dorm was empty again, so he wouldn't look like a thief. Unfortunately, now Jacob was here Vic couldn't return them so he pretended that he had been sleeping. "Hm, what prank?" He looked at Henri, attempting to hide the panic in his features. He wondered if Jacob knew what he'd done or... if the bracelets belonged to Jacob. He audibly gulped and pressed his chin into the corner of his elbow. "I haven't seen anything, Orion and I were just chilling." The crow squawked from hearing his name peering down from sitting on the bunk bed ladder, his eyes instantly zoned in on Henri's earrings so he flew over to Henri's shoulder. Being familiar with one of Vic's trusted friends Orion merely perched there but didn't move to snatch the earrings away. Vic huffed under his breath, visibly agitated since apparently Orion understood boundaries which would have been useful five minutes ago.

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：vic rose。⁰⁴ @－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ "Ask me what?" Henri wondered as he walked into the dorm, stretching a bit. He had been out before, sleeping on the common room chair and he definitely could not recommend it. He had been napping of a lot recently, especially whenever he tried to keep his head in his studies and read about it, but somehow sleep was a better friend than any kind of history or potions. However he still ended up with okay grades. Not that he really cared too much about it. He knew how to survive in the magic world but he preferred to spend his time with the people he cared for and if that meant he was only ending up with an B or C instead of an A, he could definitely deal witht that. "If any pranks happened, that was definitely not me," he then explained, lifting his hands and a huff leaving his lips. "I only slept on the chair in the common room after I chatted with Vic, I think," he said, remembering how he had talked to Vic about how much they had to study and that he just really wanted a break.

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：vic rose。⁰⁴ @－ ❛ ʜ ❜：henri knight。⁰⁴ There are rare moments Jacob had over himself were so little compared to how much he worked. Thankfully, he had his own time for himself to continue his work over the treasures he had kept inside one corner of his room. The hufflepuff student returned to his dorm room and greeted his pet companion, Lucky. “Hey–Oh, you’re asleep! Sorry...” The feline squinted at Jacob and meow in response before returning to its sleep. Well, someone doesn’t look happy to see him today. He gave a pet towards the fluff ball before returning his attention to search for his bracelet kit. “Alright, Jacob. Self-care schedule starts today.” He looked over his shoulder to find the bracelets he had contained for his past creations with its lid open. “That’s odd... I never leave these open or do I?” Jacob franticly strode around his part of the room to find the bracelets he made a few days back. Because of his consistent noise, Lucky had to open its eyes and watch her owner move through drawers to closets and finally its own bed, thinking if she even hid it. In return, Jacob received a paw hit directly on his face upon disturbing his pet companion’s bed space. “Ah, Henri might play a prank on me.” Jacob mumbled before leaving his room, deciding to ask one guy of his house. Lucky huffed before going back to sleep.

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：winifred rhee。⁰¹ He wondered how long it has been ever since Biscuit had met a few furry animals just like her but he felt glad to bring up the offer of their pets meeting. For a moment he thought of his parents affection and how much it brought him warmth. The moment where he was first accepted in to how much they supported him until he attended hogwarts. How were they right now is a big mystery for him but he continuously hopes they will always be okay. Jacob took a bite of his scone and nodded slightly, listening to half of Winifred's conversation with him. "They do. This scone tastes amazing!" He exclaimed in joy and took another bite of the scone. Just like the tea he was introduced to new flavors bursting through his mouth once more.

"I'd like to believe it's the former. How could no one enjoy this talent you have? I do." He complimented her blend in tea, later on taking another sip from his cup. "Oh! I see him often in the hufflepuff common room a lot and only talked to him recently during our winter break. We're friends and hopefully closer. He's a very interesting person to talk to and befriend." Jacob said happily remembering about his encounters with the different students from Hogwarts. "I think I'm almost running out of material? I'm not sure but I'll consider it. I'd love to sell them and hopefully it doesn't break. A couple of the bracelets I made, the chord ends up breaking." Jacob nodded in agreement. "Self love and care is very important to one self... Sadly I rarely do it." He laughed a bit in embarrassment of how much he lacked that type of activity in his schedule. "Thank you for the offer though."

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ “brilliant. i look forward to it! i know biscuit will be thrilled. she’s overdue for some furry companionship. the poor thing is stuck in my room with only me as company.” the corner of her eyes crinkled in mirth as she sipped her tea. “it took some time for them to warm up to her—my parents aren’t the biggest animal lovers by any means—but they eventually fell for her charms. now they spoil her rotten! i swear they’ve given her more kisses and ‘i love you’s’ than i have during my entire childhood. are your parents the same, jacob?”

“thank you. from what they’ve told me, they all seem to enjoy the tea blends. that or they’re just being polite but i’d like to believe the former,” she joked. “yes, maël was particularly eager to try it! he was very sweet if not slightly dazed when i met him. hopefully, the tea will help him relax. are you two close?” the hufflepuff girl leaned in to take a closer look at his phone. her smile widened, clearly impressed by what she saw. “wow! your bracelets are so pretty, jacob. i love how you arranged the beads in such interesting patterns. your friends are truly lucky to receive beautiful gifts. if you have spare beads, you should consider selling these! you’d make a killer profit i’m sure.” while she had trouble believing in her own endeavors, she never hesitated to hype up and encourage her friends. “same here. with all the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a break will be a welcomed and well-deserved treat.”

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：winifred rhee。⁰¹ For a moment he didn't realize how much his explanation made sense for the younger hufflepuff to understand but he felt glad with whatever he just told her made sense. "That's great! We can set up their meet up whenever either of us is free." When would Jacob ever be free once again such as these rare moments? His schedule is always packed with academics and quidditch practice in between. Lucky could use new companionship besides Jacob and the confinements of his room. He just hoped Lucky won't run off too quickly after seeing Biscuit. "Well, at least they liked Biscuit as much as my parents loved Lucky, right? They will never resist how adorable they are."

Jacob knew a few of the students mentioned from Winifred, not all but some of them. "That's thoughtful of you. I bet they enjoyed the tea blends... especially Mal since I knew he's a large fan for tea." He said remembering the moment where he and the ravenclaw ate somewhere after giving away one bracelet for him. "Yeah, I was doing a regular clean up in my dorm room and found this odd container. Turns out it had beads inside it. I guess I forgot that I brought my container of beads along with me to hogwarts." The male nodded and pulled his phone out from his pocket to show Winifred the varities of handmade bracelets he's done ever since winter break. There were different colors transcending from black, white, to gold beads. Jacob hummed for a moment, thinking of adjusting his schedule. "Sure, I could use a day for a short break every week."

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ she couldn’t remember the last time she had this much fun during afternoon tea. it was usually a quiet ritual all by her lonesome and a book. it was refreshing to enjoy it with a new friend. “that’s quite a proper explanation, sir jacob. you’re already exceeding the expectations of your position.” she hummed in agreement before taking a sip of her tea. “i think that’s a smashing idea, jacob! biscuit has a rather gentle and relaxed disposition, especially in her old age. i’ll make sure she doesn’t scare lucky away.” she nodded her head. “no, you’re correct. i actually went back into the shop asking the wandmaker himself if he was aware of the puppy outside. he didn’t so i took her in. and that’s good to hear! your parents were likely bewitched by lucky’s cuteness. my parents were completely unaware of me adopting a pup until i brought her with me during winter break. they were speechless, to say the least.”

winifred took a moment to think before answering. she was actually surprised by the number of people she had given tea to. “let’s see… i’ve shared my tea blends with braeden, emerald, and liandro from slytherin as well as maël and silas from ravenclaw. though i wouldn’t call them clients since i gave them out for free.” she pointed out, feeling slightly reluctant to share that last tidbit. people couldn’t still fathom why she was giving her blends away willy-nilly; however, it didn’t feel right to her to charge anyone. “i recently got featured in hogwarts herald so i’m likely going to get a few more inquiries.” she perked up at the mention of bracelets. “ooh, handmade bracelets? they must’ve been lovely. i’m sure your friends were over the moon to receive a gift that took time and talent to create. do you have pictures of your bracelets?” she wouldn’t call herself a jewelry connoisseur but she did have a soft spot for homemade accessories. she smiled at his response. “of course! if you’d like, we could make this afternoon tea a weekly or bi-weekly thing and we’ll make our way through the different blends.”

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：winifred rhee。⁰¹ He wasn’t aware of what he told the young Hufflepuff to be something funny, but to the least of his efforts it made her laugh. “I mean, royalty relates to aristocrat and since we’re having tea, we can follow the end of aristocrat with the word tea mixed. Then it would make a very remarkable pun, thank you very much.” Jacob took another sip of his drink after explaining the pun. Do puns need to be explainable? Well, as long as it made sense, but he would still explain what it meant. “I’m promoted to royal adviser of puns now, I see, unique.” It made Jacob laugh at how silly and cute it sounded. He hummed in thought upon meeting Winifred’s pet dog, Biscuit. Should he bring Lucky along with him? “I was thinking of Biscuit and Lucky to meet each other however, my pet cat is rather shy though and might runaway from Biscuit.” He scratched the back of his head. “Ollivanders? Do you mean the wand shop in Diagon Alley, or am I wrong? Oh, definitely! I swear my parents almost didn’t agree with me adopting Lucky, but they warmed up to her, eventually.”

“I bet they will love the tea you made. Who else have you shared your tea blend besides me? What were their reactions to your tea? I bet you already have so many customers with this blend.” He smiled before taking a sip and considered what to place on his scone. Strawberry jam or clotted cream? Should he add both in or one of them from the selection? “Meanwhile, you made tea, I made hand made bracelets during our winter break last time and gave it as gifts to friends. I wasn’t sure what to do and for sure I don’t want to study more during winter break, so why not do a new hobby? Although, during these times, I can only make a few with the material I have.” He explained and remembered the time he had spent his holidays at Hogwarts, which he always have done ever since he enrolled there. Jacob nodded and added the following onto the scone before taking a bite. “Yes, but I’d like to taste your future creations as well. It got me curious.”

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ winifred couldn’t stop herself from snorting. “aristocratea? now that’s a bloody brilliant name! you’re really good at these, jacob. i shall make you the royal advisor of puns.” she joked with the comically posh accent making an appearance once more. she beamed with pride at his compliment. “right? she’s also such a sweetheart. you’ll definitely get the chance to meet her. i’ll bring her the next time we get together. biscuit adores making new friends.” she listened patiently as he told her more about his pet cat. her heart tugged when he mentioned his late dog, pindrop. it must’ve been a difficult experience to lose a beloved family member like that. from the way he fondly described lucky’s story, it seemed like the calico cat was slowly mending those wounds. “thank you for telling me, jacob. that was truly heartwarming. i know you mentioned lucky can be rather hard to read but i’m certain that she’s truly happy to be with you. you know, biscuit and i have a similar history. i found the poor pup in a box right outside ollivanders. it’s nice to meet a fellow adopter!”

she shook her head. “i haven’t actually but perhaps i will. i feel like professor longbottom and professor flitwick would appreciate them. maybe hagrid as well.” honestly, she was slightly nervous to send her tea blends to the faculty since she valued their opinions immensely. the younger hufflepuff waited eagerly for the older’s reaction as he took a sip. she was brimming with satisfaction. “wonderful, i’m over the moon that you like it! this is my first time making my own tea, actually. it was a product of boredom during the winter break.” even with the drink as the main attraction, she couldn’t forget about the food she had brought. “if there’s one thing you ought to have with a hot cuppa, it’s a scone. add in some jam and clotted cream and you’ll be in heaven.” with that, she grabbed a scone and piled a good amount of mentioned toppings. “so, have i converted you to a tea drinker?”

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：winifred rhee。⁰¹ “Sipping the aristocratea, perhaps?” It would normally take Jacob a while until he would think of a word that was filled with puns. The only puns he knew about were cat related and only a few of his friends like Mint would understand and laugh about them. He never created puns about dogs when his golden retriever was with him before. Jacob leaned in to see the picture of the dog, making him coo at the sight of how adorable it looked like. “She looks so cute! I would like to meet her someday if I could get the chance.” He smiled warmly before thinking about Lucky, his little lazy fur ball. “Oh, right! I’ve had Lucky after a month of Pindrop’s passing.” He scratched the back of his neck before deciding to continue. “Lucky is a stray calico that I found around the streets of U.K. Her mother left us with her and I kept her. My parents agreed, and I took care of Lucky. I also brought her along with me in Hogwarts.”

“The samples would be great, thank you. I didn’t think you made tea specialized for all houses. Have you recommended it to the professors before? I bet they would love these blends."” He smiled before taking a small sip of what he just stirred. The blend made an honorary introduction that traveled straight towards his taste buds. He never knew how extraordinary it taste like from all those years of simply starring at the packs from local stores. He blew on the cup again before taking another sip of the beverage. “It has a very remarkable taste, if I say so myself.” Jacob announced in a professional act before coming back to his own silly self. “How long have you been making tea? It tastes great. I’m not sure why I ever came to just stare at tea packets before until I’ve tasted some tea now.” He took the warm cup of tea and took another sip before setting it on its saucer.

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ she chuckled, her nose scrunched in amusement at the thought. “the show could be called ‘sipping the royaltea’ or something punny like that.” her smile widened at the mention of her pet dog. “her name is biscuit,” she answered fondly. taking out her phone and showing him the screen, the image of a happy brown shih tzu could be seen. “she’s been with me since my very first year at hogwarts. through thick and thin, we’ve been at each other’s sides. i truly love her to bits.” her cheeks warmed in embarrassment after realizing how carried away she had gotten with talking about her beloved pup. “so, um, you mentioned having a cat named lucky. how long have you had her?”

“thank you, jacob. that’s very kind of you to say. i’m still learning” she said sheepishly. the younger hufflepuff had always struggled with accepting compliments but she was trying to change that. “ i do have tea blends based on the other houses. if you’re interested in trying those, i can owl you some samples.” if the hufflepuff blend ended up not being to his liking, maybe the other blends would. “you’re very welcome. honestly, there’s nothing better than enjoying a hot cuppa with a new friend.” she watched him mix the milk and sugar his tea, giving him an encouraging smile. once he was done, she fixed her drink to her liking and then took a sip. she hummed happily at the wonderful taste. “now that hits the spot. so what do you think? does the tea live up to your expectations?”

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：winifred rhee。⁰¹ “It’s an honor to accept an invitation from you, your royal highness. Speaking of our main and supporting cast, I believe you just made it as a royal talk show that would air every Sunday night.” He chuckled in response upon imagining the little thought of it that came from his head. Do these types of shows exist in the muggle world somehow? Probably not, but it would be funny to see something like this come to life based from movies and novel books. “That’s sweet of you to do. I’m glad you and your pup like my Valentine’s Day gift.” He just can’t miss out on mentioning Winifred’s pet dog. Jacob had a soft spot for animals, may it be a dog or a cat. “What’s her name? I don’t think I remember asking.”

There he had his eyes wide at Winifred’s revelation upon taking in the information regarding the source of the tea, which she sent him last Valentine’s Day. “You’re very talented and knowledgeable about the different variations of tea then. Do you have tea packets specialized for the houses here in Hogwarts besides Hufflepuff or?” Now his curiosity grew on another level, wanting to inquire what type of tea the young Hufflepuff made so far. “Resist it for about 21 years of my life? You could say that, not until now at least.” He smiled at Winifred. “Thank you again for making this happen.” He watched her give him the cup of tea followed by the small saucer of milk and the sugar. Jacob hummed in thought of what to add. He felt clueless of how much milk and sugar to add. Hopefully, it won’t be too sweet for him. The Hufflepuff added 1/4 of milk and 2 sugar before stirring it.

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@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：jacob caxton。⁰³ “well, if i’m going to be royalty this afternoon, then you shall be my royal guest, sir jacob. and trust me, tea will remain the star of the show. these scrummy bites are simply part of the supporting cast.” her shoulders relaxed at his reassurance. it was a relief to hear that he wasn’t allergic to the food she brought over. she mentally cataloged his fondness for strawberries and shrugged sheepishly. “it is a bit much, isn’t it? but honestly, i’m more than happy to do this. i was really touched when you sent me that valentine’s gift and now i want to do something similar for you.” extending gratitude was something she always strived to do. not because she felt the need to ‘return the favor’ but because she wholeheartedly appreciated all the kindness sent her way.

“i made it myself,” she explained with a hint of pride in her voice. “the ingredients come from both the greenhouse and my parent’s flower shop.” she listened carefully to jacob’s explanation. it made sense even though she couldn’t relate to it. drinking tea was almost as essential as drinking water to the younger hufflepuff. “i see. in many ways, i’m impressed that you managed to resist the temptation to try it for so long. i feel like i’ve been indoctrinated to love it being born and raised in the muggle world. at least you can try it now! hopefully, after this, you’ll grow to like it.” three minutes had passed, giving the tea leaves enough time to steep. she took out the tea strainers and gingerly placed them on a spare plate. she pushed a teacup towards jacob then a small saucer of milk and a bowl of sugar. “feel free to doctor the tea to your liking. i prefer mine with a hearty splash of milk and one sugar.”

@－ ❛ ʜ ❜：winifred rhee。⁰¹ There were a lot of treats present on the table making Jacob surprised at how well prepared the hufflepuff was for this minor event they will be having. “Yes, but for today in this occasion I shall call you royal highness Winifred. Just look at all this food you have. I swear I almost thought tea was the only thing here in our agreement.” He chuckled and sit across from her to inspect what Winifred brought for them to savor upon this day. “I really like strawberry jam or anything strawberry related. I’m not really allergic to anything and you don’t need to run back to the kitchen and whip us something different, you’ve done a lot and enough for us and I’m really grateful for it.” One of his parents was one of the few people that showed him kindness, along with many people here in hogwarts which he considers as his home.

He recognizes the tea blend pouch and watched the other make the tea that they will have for today. He saw no one make tea like this, there were only small packets that he knew where you could just grab a warm cup of water and dip it in, but he saw no one make tea like how Winifred did. There he was watching in amusement of how Winifred made the tea served for the both of them. “Where did you get these tea blend mix?” He had to ask since he has never seen it before. It was that. Or maybe it’s because he never really ordered any packets or pouches of tea. “Well, It’s just I’ve seen it in groceries around the muggle world but never decided on trying them before. I don’t hate tea, but it’s just I’ve never decided on it before.”