This load of flowers was surely her last!

Charley could hardly believe how much flowers weighed. Someone really should have taught that in Herbology class at Hogwarts. Craning her neck up at the wrought-iron gates, the urchin stared at the forbidden sight in front of her. Just because she couldn't walk through it anymore didn't mean she couldn't do anything to it.

Like make it prettier than it had been in centuries, she was certain!

The urchin got herself to work, pulling out stems of flowers from her bundles and threading them through the bars of the gates. She was up high on the gates themselves, clinging to the bars with one hand and her feet while trying to make an arrangement out of the embellished logo set in the gate, when Charley noticed someone standing there watching her.

"They're all paid for!" Charley had to take the stem out of her mouth to shout down, nearly losing her balance in the process. The poor flower crushed against the gates as she hugged tight against the cold iron. It was hardly anything worse than the state the others were in.

She had only gotten them cheap from Miss Crouch's shop since they were rejects. "Unsuitable," as Mrs. Mann had declared them. Charley must have taken that as a challenge, because here she was, making the flowers suitable. And calling down to the person looking suspiciously up at an urchin climbing high on the Hogwarts gates.

"I en't a thief!"

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