December 16th, 1888 — High Street, Hogsmeade

It was the first time she'd left her great aunt's house during the festive season since going to live with her and it had had a profound effect upon Hesper. Hogsmeade, ordinarily a magical place, seemed even more so in the throes of Christmas. Her governess had used the excuse of needing to see the cobbler in Hogsmeade to get her melancholy charge out of the house in the hopes of exposing her to a little Christmas cheer. While it had initially delighted her, while sat having her feet measured she became overwrought. Before anyone could stop her she very suddenly had jumped to her feet and bolted out the door. Without thought for the cold she had wriggled her coat off barely troubling her stride so she'd be less recognizable to her governess.

The adrenaline wore off very quickly and she was forced to acknowledge that her stockinged feet were rapidly going numb without shoes and despite the thick wool of her dress she was shivering already. She ought to turn back and beg forgiveness for her behavior but she couldn't quite bring herself to. Not yet at least. Unsure what to do with herself, Hesper ducked down a quiet side street and huddled next to a building for warmth.

After a short while the cold was unbearable and Hesper was starting to hope her governess would find her. She looked down at her exposed hands - her gloves had been in the pocket of her coat - and was convinced they were starting to turn blue. If only she could do magic already there had to be a spell to make herself warm. She rubbed her aching fingers together and tried to warm them with her breath. She scrunched her eyes shut for a moment and pictured a roaring fire in the hopes imagining heat would make her feel warm. When she opened her eyes there was what appeared to be a little orb of fire floating in the air before her. It wasn't giving out much heat but it was a miraculous and welcome sight all the same. She looked about and noticed someone walking past. "Excuse me," she began primly, "Is this yours?" She indicated towards the floating flame.

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Morgana was a bit of a Scrooge when it came to Christmas. Mostly because someone Marvolo insisted on being an utter moron. She adored her betrothed, really she did. But she also didn't want to go on ill-advised heists. Plus, they were poor. It wasn't like they got much out of the holidays. She had gotten off work and was now trudging through High Street. She should probably buy something for an evening meal.

Hearing a prim little voice calling out to her, Morgana turned her attention towards it. She was mildly surprised to see a girl that looked mostly well off without a coat or shoes. She looked like she would freeze to death at any given moment. "No. I think it might be yours," Morgana said. There was no one else around that could have done it, she didn't think. "Where did you come from?"

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The person she had called out to turned towards her and Hesper noted that she was older but definitely not an adult. Her clothes didn't look very nice and she wasn't sure what to make of it. She'd been very sheltered and her only real exposure to those less well off than her were servants, but servants didn't typically dress shabbily.

She glanced at the floating flame with some disbelief - had she really done that? It wouldn't be the first time she'd had a burst of accidental magic but she'd certainly never had it manifest so usefully before. The older girl's question brought her back to the matter at hand and she sheepishly bowed her head as if she was being scolded. "I won't be allowed out again after this," she mumbled. Her teeth chattered and she scrunched up her toes which were now oddly burning although they were anything but warm.

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"What? Because of this? It's fascinating really and only a bout of accidental magic, yeah?" Morgana asked, wondering what was causing the flame orb to continue floating. How had the girl even made it? Morgana had attended some of Hogwarts but had never really seen such a spell. Similiar spells, yes but not quite the same as this. It was pretty cool. "Where do you belong anyway?" She asked, remembering that the girl seemed to be quite young, probably a future first year considering the bout of magic and the girls quality clothing.

  

Hesper glanced at the flame she had apparently wrought and shook her head sharply. Her great aunt would probably approve of it, what she wouldn't approve of was the entire situation in which it had come about. She wouldn't even approve of her talking to this older girl. It was a wonder she approved of anything.

"What do you mean 'belong'?" Hesper shifted in place, trying to make her feet feel a little better but to no avail.

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The little girl was an odd duck, wasn't she? "No worries. Ain't like I'm going to be telling anybody you might know about this," she pointed out with a laugh. It was quite unlikely that any of the lot she talked with high falutin' folk like this girl likely knew.

"Well, you clearly ain't a slum rat like me so where do you kipper down for the night?"

  

Her manner of speaking was most odd, Hesper thought. What did this girl mean by slum rat and kippering? She didn't look like a rat and Hesper didn't know what fish had to do with anything, although she was just about able to deduce from context that the girl was asking her something about where she partook in some sort of evening activity. "My room I suppose..." At night that was usually where she could be found - in her bedroom, probably in her bed - but what did that have to do with anything? The thought of her bed was an appealing one in light of her current chilly situation. "You're not really asking if I go fishing at night, are you?" For fear of looking stupid she had to ask but even as she did she felt stupid anyway.

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Morganas lips quirked into an almost smile. "No, doll, I'm asking where you live. I'm sure they must be missing a small mite like you by now." The kid was definitely not wise to street talk or any of the slangs Morganas lot tended to use. Definitely one of those uppity folk who had apparently lost her way.

  

"I'm not a mite," she insisted, her indignance rather spoiled by the sudden chattering of her teeth. "I'm going to Hogwarts next year, I'm quite grown up." And yet there she was standing in snow with no shoes and a governess probably hot on her trail. After obvious hesitation she finally admitted, "I live at Jobberknoll's End." Not that this girl was likely to know where that was, Wales was a long way off and that was just the name of the house.

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"Ah, okay then, my apologies, little lady," Morgana said with a salute, amused at the girls pluck. She had never heard of a Jobberknoll's End. "Is that in Wellingtonshire?" Morgana asked. She came from somewhere wealthy, Morgana could sense tell that quite easily.

  

Hesper got the impression this girl was mocking her but she was too busy letting her teeth chatter to make a fuss.

"No." Oh but she wished it was! If she lived in Hogsmeade again it'd be so much easier to leave the house, or so she thought. If other children were just around the corner, surely she'd be allowed to see them? "You're from the slums, aren't you?" Her shivers grew more obvious as it became harder to keep them at bay.

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"Yes, I am," Morgana replied when the girl asked if she was from the slums. Or rather, assumed correctly. The girl was shivering even more so Morgana figured the thing to do was to guide her into the nearest warm shop to a) warm up and b) get an actual adult to help the kid out. "Why don't we head into the three broomsticks? They can get you a hot cocoa and send someone to try and find your kin."

  

She probably shouldn't go with this girl anywhere, she was probably no good, but the alternative was returning to her governess for a good scolding. It would mean a guaranteed return to her warm clothes though. Hesper bit her lip which was numb with cold. Hot cocoa did sound wonderful though. Hot anything would sound wonderful to her at that moment if she was honest. "All right then," she agreed hesitantly. A voice in the back of her head was berating her for her choice but she only shivered and blocked it out. She'd pay for this but first she might get some cocoa.

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The girl smiled as the little girl agreed to go with her. They were just lucky Marvolo was not with them, she personally supposed. He would likely be not as kind. But Morgana had a bit more human decency in her than her betrothed, as besotted with him as she sometimes was. With the girls agreement gotten, she led the little girl to warmth where she would eventually be returned to her home, hopefully.