Miss Davis,

Thank you for replying so quickly to our inquiry and to the initial timetable that I sent you.

We are very pleased to have you organize the First Annual Hogsmeade Halloween Festival. We do have several idea of what we'd like done, for the children as well as for the adults, and I would appreciate it if you could meet with me this afternoon at half past 1, if you're free to discuss details.

Fiona Dearborn
Head of the Hogsmeade Village Association

The return owl had come just before noon. Tracey had just rolled her eyes at the short notice, but managed to pen a reply before getting ready to meet with Pansy and Daphne for lunch. After their very short and very strange meal, Tracey managed to leave her friends and found herself in front of the Hogsmeade Village Offices at precisely 1:15. She opened the big doors and walked toward the witch behind the little desk.

"Can I help you, Miss?" she asked, her little spectacles at the tip of her nose.

Tracey smiled inwardly at the use of 'Miss', and asked politely to see Mrs. Dearborn. She was shown into a small office and the little woman, Mrs. Murphy according to the nameplate on her desk, told her 'Fiona' would be right in.

She didn't have to wait long. A tall willowy woman entered shortly and held her hand out the young witch. "Miss Davis? May I call you Tracey? I'm Fiona Dearborn. I greatly appreciate you being able to stop by this afternoon. I realise it was short notice."

Smiling, Tracey shook her hand, "Think nothing of it, Fiona. And yes, please, call me Tracey. I was intrigued by your original owl, actually. You mentioned some special activities for the children and I ended up having to look them up before I could answer you properly. I know that Trick-and-Treating is quite popular in America, and becoming more so in Britain. It is my understanding that you want to bring it to the wizarding world as well, am I right?"

Smiling at Tracey's mistake, Fiona nodded. "That's right. We feel that it would be an extra draw to the village and it would keep the older children out of trouble. We're finding that more and more acts of vandalism and violence are occurring that night."

Tracey nodded. She could understand. "And then you mentioned something later, for the adults?" That was something that she had actually thought about quite a bit since receiving Fiona's owl.

The older woman nodded. "Yes, we were thinking of an all night extravaganza. Shops and dining establishments offering their wares to grown witches and wizards all evening. It will bring money and exposure into the village. Most think of Hogsmeade as just the town next to Hogwart's. We'd like to change that image."

Tracey smiled. She had many good memories of Hogsmeade and was happy to help. "Now, about my fee..."

"Oh yes, the village has allotted a special fund for the festivities as well as your salary."

"What I was going to say was that I require no salary. Feel free to donate it to St. Winifred’s Home for Unwed Mothers or something, only, please don't say it was from me. I don't take on every project that is asked of me and I certainly don't need the money, I'll pay for my own staff myself but should there be any other expenses I'll send them to your accounting department, all right?"

"Are you sure, Miss Davis? I assure you that we are prepared to pay you quite well." The woman looked shocked to say the least.

Tracey smiled, "It's Tracey, please. And I'm very sure. Usually I work for the Ministry, and I promise you, the possibility of planning a party so everyone can enjoy this little town makes me very pleased. I'll set about owling the proprietors of the Hogsmeade Businesses this afternoon. Perhaps I can persuade the Three Broomsticks to act as a focal point, costume awards, a program and the like." Tracey rose out of her seat and reached her hand across the desk. "Thank you for the opportunity, Mrs. Dearborn."

The older woman smiled. "Thank you, Tracey."


(Summary: Tracey takes on a new project)