3 August 1895 - outside of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour

The chalkboard sign outside of Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour had seen better days; not because it wasn’t charming (it was, aggressively so), but because today Ritchie had charmed it to play jolly violins every time someone walked by. It was to catch their attention, of course.

Beside the chalkboard sign was the cart usually found in Hogsmeade during the weekends the Hogwarts students were allowed to descend upon the village, although since school wasn’t in session, Ritchie had commandeered it for himself; his sister was tired of trying out flavors but he needed to start perfecting the September seasonal flavors before the month crept up on them. So he stood behind the cart, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a smudge of caramel clinging to his wrist where he’d clearly forgotten about it.

He was scribbling something in his tasting journal with one hand and holding a clean spoon with the other, his expression tight with concentration.

And then the violins started playing, jolting Ritchie from his thoughts. “You!” He called out sharply, pointing the clean spoon like a wand. “You look judgmental. Come taste this and tell me what you think.” He already knew what he thought of it, although it wouldn't sell well others didn't enjoy it too.

He pushed a small tasting cup of what he called the Sizzling Scone & Butter flavor toward them, although Ritchie didn’t feel the need to tell them that.

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Dorothea trotted along the street in quite a good mood today, the sun was beating down in her and her trip to Diagon Alley to grab a few spare essentials that first years might have forgotten to pick up for schools had gone quite well. No hufflepuff would be without clippers for their owl's talons at the very least. Minor things, but little quality of life things that she hoped would make transition for the students as easy as she could.

A voice snapped at her, sharply, but not angrily and it got her attention. The man might cast a spell from his spoon if he waved it with much more vigour. "Me sir?" judgemental? She had certainly been called that in the past. Maybe she should be offended but his manner, and the fact that he was offering ice cream, too away the need for her to shoot a sour glance. She walked over.

" I might just do that, thank you." she took the cup, smelled it then scooped it into her mouth. It tasted like fresh scones with butter and it melted in her mouth. "Oh wow..." she said before finishing her mouthful. Manners briefly escaping her. "What do you call that?"

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Ritchie Fortescue

  

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“Yes you.” Ritchie waved the woman on over, hoping that she wasn’t just going to scoff and leave, although if he did, it would prove his point that she not only looked judgmental, but was as well. But luckily for him she did come over and took the cup. Ritchie absolutely beamed, both at her reaction and the validation of it being offered.

“You’re in luck,” Ritchie said as he leaned back, the spoon tapping against the top of the cart, “Because this is the first official public tasting of the Sizzling Scone & Butter. It’s still in its experimental infancy, mind you.” He said it quickly, just in case she had some kind of reaction to it, but since she didn’t immediately keel over, but instead seemed to enjoy the flavor of it, Ritchie continued, lips curling into a smile. He always did like it when people enjoyed the flavors that he made, and hopefully this one would be a winner. “A base of warm vanilla clotted cream, with some crumbled scones mixed in. The sizzling part is hopefully self explanatory, but we’ll see if I was able to cast that charm correctly.”

For safe measures, Ritchie took a step back. A giant step back. Clara had breathed some fire when she’d tried it, but Tabby had only steamed from the ears.

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Dorothea had a big smile on her face as finished her first scoop and picked up the second onto the small spoon that had been provided. "Well, it is very lovely. I can taste the scones and the butter. It is quite an odd sensation for the cold of the ice cream to be mixed in with hot butter... very hot butter... oh..." the sensation was getting closer to the limits of pleasure and closer to discomfort just as he stepped back. Thea pulled her chin in and twisted her face up a little to attempt to resist it becoming too much. She popped the second scoop in almost instinctively to cool her mouth, which of course was not the wisest choice.

Her fist went to her mouth as it finally subsided and she let out a little burp. She did not catch fire, or vomit up lava, but she blushed as she realised the gas had escaped. She looked at the man. "Would you like some notes?" she said with a smirk.

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Ritchie Fortescue

  

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Ritchie was wearing that smug sort of half-smile that meant he was waiting for some kind of reaction, and boy did he see one. Her expression shifted from intrigue to alarm, and by the time the little burp escaped, his grin had cracked wide open. She wasn’t spitting fire or dying for some relief, so that was something.

He reached over to slide her a napkin, still looking far too pleased with himself. “Notes would be good, thanks.” it was always nice to hear what customers thought of his latest stroke of genius ice cream flavor combination. Ritchie did arch an eyebrow. “Although if you tell me to tone it down, I’m ignoring that note entirely.”

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Bee made the lovely grey set<3

She laughed and gave him a challenging look out of the side of her eye before nodding in acceptance. "Being firm on your craft is a good look. Well then... notes...

It is very nice, it has a wonderful richness too it that puts me in a mind of cream teas I enjoyed as a child. The heat is maybe just a touch to much. Not so much to ruin the experience, but it may end up having me order something else next time." she felt like that was a fair enough note, she had quite enjoyed it until the very last moments.

She shifted in her seat and pulled out her coin purse looking more like a customer now. "Perhaps I might order something else now. What might you suggest to this lady?" she tries to look entirely innocent to the man as if she was naive to the world of ice cream, she was just having a little fun and he hoped he played along.

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Ritchie Fortescue

  

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Ritchie tipped his head, clearly amused by the way she was carefully trying to shape her critique. “That’s fair,” he said, lips quirking at the corner, “but the point is to make it spicy. Some people like the surprise of breathing actual fire.” He was happy he was trying this now though, and not right before the dragon attacks happened last year – that would have been terrible for business!

“‘Course I’d rather not scorch your tongue clean off. That’s bad for repeat business.” Ritchie’s grin widened, a bit boyish now, but at her question he tapped a finger against his jaw like he was giving her request serious thought. “Alright. If you’d rather not play dragon, I’ll set you up with something safer.” Ritchie leaned forward into the cart to weigh his options. “You could try the lavender honey, which is delicate and won’t bite back, or,” He paused for the dramatics of it, “you could try raspberry ripple. Sometimes it likes to leave you wondering whether it’s sweet or sharp until the very last spoonful.”

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Bee made the lovely grey set<3

He had a nice smile, friendly and welcoming, perfect for someone selling something like ice cream and she smiled back but then her shoulders raised in a little suppressed laugh. "Ok, so now I just sound like a wimp who cant handle her ice cream." she would agree to not having her tongue scorched off though, it would be a less than useful injury.

She pondered her ice cream recommendations for a few moments. "Im a Potts so I guess it only fair I give the lavender a try, please." she said placing her hands on the counter and straightening her posture like the student waiting for her dinner to be placed down. As the man turned around she found herself lifting her spoon in front of her and quickly checking her hair, makeup and teeth to make sure nothing was out of place. She managed to get the spoon back down before he turned, but only then realised he had been standing faced towards a reflective surface, had he seen her preening herself for him? How embarassing. She blushed just the smallest amount but managed to cover the wide smirk on her face with her excitement for the delicious looking curls of ice cream in the fresh bowl in front of her. "Beautiful!"

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Ritchie Fortescue

  

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Ritchie couldn’t help but grin, although he didn’t comment as she called herself a wimp. He would confirm or deny that, as he wasn’t sure how she’d take it. He turned then and scooped up the lavender ice cream into a small bowl, although as he did, his eyes flicked up to the reflection just in time to see her preen herself. Ritchie gave her another minute before he turned around and slid it in front of her. “Lavender should taste fresh. My brother picked it this morning.” Mattie was the herbologist of the family, so he really got to decide what the floral flavors were, although sometimes Ricthie got them from other places, like the Sprouts. They were always (mostly) willing to give him what he wanted.

His gaze flicked briefly to the spoon in her hand, but he didn’t say a word about her earlier adjustment in the reflection. Instead, he tipped his head in mock seriousness.“Go on, give it a try. If it wins you over, I’ll count that a success.” Ice cream was, after all, his pride and joy in life. “And if not, well, that just means you’ll have to come back and let me prove myself with another flavor.”

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   Dorothea Potts

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Bee made the lovely grey set<3

Dorothea thanked the man then played with her ice cream briefly, returning his mock serious expression, giving it a little smell and then placing the scoop into her mouth. Feeling it melt on her tongue. Merlin it was good.

She took a second scoop, making sure to savour it and give it a really honest try. Her spoon was placed down methodically and she picked up the napkin without saying a word to dab her lips and wipe away the smallest amount of ice cream from her fingers. She was taking her time, leaving the man in a pretend suspense and desperately trying not to giggle. A fact that she was actually fairly good at hiding even though she could feel her cheeks tightening at the game. "Well..." she said after a long sigh. "That might just be one of the finest ice creams I have had the pleasure to sample, you must have a real love for your trade." she nodded and gave a sweet smile.

"Which is truly a shame... because now I have no reason to come back and let you prove yourself again." she said playfully. "But I suppose I can't very well try all of your flavours today now can I. I shall take a copy of your menu and return the same time next week?" she finished. Her tone was flirtascious, and she didnt mind it at all, but at least she knew how to speak to gentleman without looking a fool.

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Ritchie Fortescue

  

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