He was a stubborn one, she noted, but not entirely too stubborn to see reason. However, he did not tone down his attitude as he did his voice, leaving Flora's frown firm on her face.

"I am here for the same reason many are," she answered, her shoulders relaxing as the conversation shifted to explanation from the dreaded deescalation. "The fog's made living in Hogsmeade nearly impossible at the moment. All the witches and wizards there are living like muggles. Imagine that!"

---

  

---

Arching his eyebrows with an obvious confused expression, Paxton’s arms dropped to his sides; “Fog? What fog?” He queried, his tone much less annoyed than it had been moments prior.

He hadn’t heard much about some sort fog encroaching on Hogsmeade though truth be told, Paxton didn’t particularly listen to things that didn’t interest or directly impact him.

“And living like muggles? There’s nothing wrong with that!”

---

  

Flora was utterly appalled that Mr. Fudge either (1) didn't pay enough attention to the events around him, or (2) had been so sheltered by his family that he hadn't even realized there was magic-inhibiting fog invading Hogsmeade!

"Oh you must know, Mr. Fudge," she said with a dismissive wave, hoping he was joking. "Hogsmeade and the surrounding areas—Hogwarts included, I'm afraid!—has been cloaked in a blanket of fog that's stopped magic from working. It seems to have some very odd, very scary side effects, too: darkness, frogs, locusts," she explained, her stomach turning just at the mention.

"I'm worried we won't be able to go to school if they don't stop it. How will we learn magic if we can't even cast a spell?" she asked somberly, flashing a concerned glance in his direction.

---

  

---

“Hogwarts is broken!?” Paxton’s eyes widened with shock. How could there be no magic in Hogwarts! He had just gotten his wand! He didn’t care about bugs and frogs! THERE WAS NO MAGIC IN HOGWARTS.

“How! Exactly! This is not right! We must do something! I am going to go to Hogwarts and get rid of the fog myself!” Paxton nodded assuredly and pointed toward Flora, “And you shall help!”

---

  

Oh Merlin, did this child have no sense of reality? Or were all boys so self-assured despite knowing of the reality? Was that why they became aurors? Was that why it was men that frequently died in freak accidents? Flora did not know, nor did she really care, except for that she didn't want to be blamed for any of his stupid actions.

"That is... a terrible idea," she huffed, resisting the urge to roll her eyes, pursue her lips, whatever. "Eleven-year-olds don't save the magical world—such an idea is surely a work of fiction!"

---

  

---

“No. You’re wrong,” Paxton nodded, “Eleven years olds haven’t yet saved the magical world. We will be the first.”

---

  

Flora tilted her head to the site and flashed him a look that said "really?".

"And how would you suppose we go about doing that? If the adults can't get in and out, how do a pair of children manage?" she questioned, completely unconvinced.

---

  

---

Paxton gave the girl a non-committal sort of shrug and drug his feet into the sand a little. How was he supposed to know? He was only eleven, for Merlin’s sake!

“By trying really hard or something. I have my wand now so I can cast magic!” Paxton nodded, “We can stand outside the fog and cast magic at it! Do you have your wand yet? I bet you don’t.”

---

  

Any thoughts regarding what they could or couldn't do in regards to the fog dissipated from her mind almost immediately at the mention of a wand. His wand. Or more specifically, that he already had one.

"You have a wand?!" she asked with a gasp, eyeing his trousers with the hope that he had it in his pockets. "Can I try it? I haven't gotten the chance to purchase one, yet," she pleaded, staring up at him with wide, expectant eyes.

---

  

---

Paxton frowned a little and shook his head. Use his wand? How rude! It was his and only his! Nobody was allowed to touch it.

Not even him, apparently. His family had kept a hold of it and told him he is not to do any magic outside of Hogwarts as he was underaged – of course, Paxton took protest to that though he was powerless against the will of his seniors! Not if he hand is wand though, he thought. He’d be the best wizard ever!

“I haven’t got it and no you can’t. It’s my wand! You’re going to steal it!”

---

  

Her expression dropped at his admission. He didn't even have it; why, then, had he suggested they use it to begin with? It was beginning to look like he was just trying to impress her—for whatever reason—or make himself look more high and mighty than he really was. Her lips tugged downwards into a frown and her brows furrowed.

"Then it's a moot point, then; we couldn't do anything anyways," she pointed out.

---

  

---

“Yes we could!” Paxton huffed. Of course they could – what did she not understand? He’d grab his wand before they left and then he would use it! Duh!

Turning toward the path where the main resort building was, Paxton thought for a moment before looking back toward Flora, “We can go and get it, actually! I know exactly where it is!”

---

  

The thought of running to grab the wand was even more of a stupid idea, in Flora's opinion, than the whole thought of running off to stop the fog in Hogsmeade, mainly because it was doable. There was nothing stopping Flora from escaping her chaperon to explore the Sanditon with Mr. Fudge except her sense of morality—which, unfortunately for Mr. Fudge, was going to prevail.

"I can't," she said firmly before biting on her lip. "I don't think my mother would like that very much. I'm supposed to stay put on the shore for the afternoon," she offered as further explanation.

---

  

---

Of course you can, Paxton thought as he noticed her expression. From what he perceived her lip biting as, was that she wanted to go but thought she couldn’t. Which was a lie. She shouldn’t go, of course. But that wasn’t to say she couldn’t.

Pressing further, Paxton waved his arms for her to come with him, “Yes you can! There are a lot of people here and plus my father will say he was with you! And also you’re not doing anything silly! We’re just getting my wand!”

---

  

Flora felt her chest tighten with anxiety as she was pushed. Couldn't he see that she couldn't? It couldn't be that hard to see—all he had to do was look down at her frilly dress and up at the beaded pins in her hair!

"I can't, Mr. Fudge," she said, more confidently this time. "I - I'm not like you! I have to follow rules, lest my governess beat me to a pulp!" That was unlikely to happen, but it was a harsh enough possibility that it might dissuade her newfound companion from continuing to pressure her.

---

  

---

“Fine,” Paxton huffed as he looked to the floor. She was boring. Why – why – couldn’t she? It made absolutely no sense! It wasn’t even that far of a walk to get back to the resort.

“Stay here then and I’ll be back soon!” Paxton said as he turned on the heels of his feet and ran as fast as he could, stumbling over his own legs a few times, toward the resort.

He returned after about ten minutes, his trousers scuffed from where he’d clearly fallen over and climbed over a few things. He looked around, holding his wand clumsily in his hand, and tried to see Flora.

First, he’d forgotten where he’d left her.
Second, even if he hadn’t forgotten, it was possible she’d just walked away or gone.

“Miss Mulciber?” He called out with a sad kind of quiet and a frown, “I think she’s gone.” He looked to the ground and lowered his hand.

Well, that sucked. So, instead of doing much else, he just sat on the floor and twisted his wand around.

Maybe she’d come back.

---