Connie sighed as she approached. Every year without fail the first years looked at her as though she was imminently about to eat them alive and no matter what she tried she didn’t seem able to make a better first impression – she consoled herself that she was far from the most intimidating amongst the staff so they soon got used to her but still, seeing the fear in the eyes of someone who barely reached her naval and knowing she had caused it wasn’t a pleasant sensation by any stretch of the word.

“Not to worry Miss Gamp,” she said kindly, flicking her wand neatly so the doll flew up into her hand. Smiling gently she handed it back to the girl, coming a little closer so their transaction wasn’t too obvious to all and sundry. She doubted Miss Gamp would want it on show for the rest of the hall but as she passed over the doll she trod on something else entirely and took a step back, concerned she had foolishly broken something valuable. Another flick of her wand and a coin flew up and into her hand. She turned it over, frowning slightly at the galleon that somehow wasn’t quite right and no sooner had it dawned on her that it was unlikely for an eleven year old, even one from a rich family, to have a galleon about their person when she felt something barrel into the back of her legs and nearly send her falling into Miss Gamp. Righting herself with the aid of the breakfast table – just about – Connie awkwardly turned just in time for a nifflers claws to dig into the front of her robes and begin to scurry up.

“What the-” And before she could censure herself the little thing jumped at her hand, missed the coin, and instead landed on Miss Gamp.

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MJ made me beautiful