With two young children at home and at least a dozen more trudging through the shop every day during the winter break, Ned Flourish was very much in the market for a Christmas tree or two. Probably three; limited to that only because he hadn't found more than two locations in the bookstore where he could reasonably clear the space for one. He often sacrificed shelf space for various decorations in the store, but it was hard to justify around Christmas when so many people were shopping for gifts. And such varied purchases — unlike the back to school season, where at least half the purchases were textbooks.

He had dispatched the children with his mother, who was being a doting grandmother and letting them choose her tree for her without restriction. He intended to be slightly more discerning than the twelve-year-old, at least when it came to the two to display in the shop. He'd hardly gotten halfway down a row when the man in front of him slipped, causing Ned to rush forward with an expression of concern. He'd expected someone older, given the cane; he was a bit surprised by the man's (vaguely familiar?) appearance, but offered a hand all the same.

"Quite a tumble," he said with a grimace. "Any worse for wear?"

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