15 Feb 1895 - Chocolate Expo, Hogsmeade Hall

Anyone who knew Gus knew how much of a sweet tooth he had; it had stemmed from when he was a child, sampling all the sweets his dad brought home from his adventures and had never really gone away as he got older. So of course when he heard about the Chocolate Expo just a stone’s throw away from Hogwarts, he had to go, and it felt like the perfect excuse to leave the castle walls for a few hours. Of course he’d had to invite Winnie, just in case her medical training came in handy when he died from happiness, seeing all the sweets in one location.

“Charlotte likes fruit-filled chocolates, while Julian likes anything sticky and chewy,” Gus found himself explaining to Winnie, because of course the children Sophia left behind were always on his mind now, just like Soph herself was. God did he miss her. Their first Valentine’s Day would have been yesterday, and all he could do was leave flowers on her grave. Gus exhaled instead of frowning. “So I have to make sure I buy something to send back to them.” They deserved a treat. They deserved all the treats.

Gus adjusted the bag slung over his shoulder, already making plans to bring home a selection of sweets; he had to restock his desk drawer, after all. “But we should sample everything first, to make sure we buy the best ones, right?”

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To see Gus so invested on going to something was a breath of fresh air. Win worried about him, had purposefully put herself more firmly into his life because of it. After her last couple of very tiresome days, she thought she could use the treat too. It would be good for the both of them.

"Noted," something fruity and she assumed something with maybe some caramel. "I can take them tomorrow or the day after and check in if you want." She was trying to do her best to be supportive in an extra auntie sort of way, just there for some comfort and she was good with babies. "Samples are part of the deal," she mused. "And thanks for my entrance fee." She might not have been able to swing it otherwise. Win didn't have a lot of superfluous money kicking around most of the time. It was nice that samples were included, otherwise she would just be torturing herself. Winnie had perfected her hot chocolate by sample after all.

"Should we just go around the room or do you see something you want to start with?" She would follow his lead.

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Gus appreciated Winnie checking on the children; having them was never in the cards for him, at least not until Sophia came along. It helped that he was the godfather to both of them, and well… no one had questioned where the baby had come from, and at this point he doubted anyone would. As far as anyone was concerned, Cillian was his. What a messy situation. He was making it work as well as he possibly could.

He closed his eyes briefly before he turned toward Winnie, a small smile on his lips. “Thanks, I’d appreciate that.” It was nice to have someone to check on them, although he was considering a move back to Hogsmeade this summer. Gus loved living in Ireland, loved the freedom and being so close to the beach away from so many people, but Sophia’s memories lingered there, and it would be easier for everyone if he didn’t stay in the castle. That was a decision for later, though. He nodded at her thanks.

”Well,” He mused, taking a quick look around, “We could be logical and start at the beginning, but I think that sounds interesting.” Gus tipped his head toward one of the signs near the back - Chocolate Wheel of Fate!! It looked more like a carnival game than something that should be at a chocolate expo, although Gus was interested to see what kind of chocolate sample he might land on – he had missed out on the change candies someone was selling in Hogsmeade earlier (not that he wanted to be unknowingly experimented on), so it only felt fair to try his luck at something a little more sanctioned.

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