Hera stepped into the bakery, glad to be back with something familiar, glad to be getting back to her routine. The holidays with her family were always grueling. This year had been worse. She would especially pleased to see Angelina. She ordered a tart from a girl she did not recognize and went and sat down. She was anxious to ask her friend how her holiday had been. The girl at the counter said Angie would be in today. Hera would wait.

Huffing, the heavy layers of clothing weighing her down with the added wetness from the snow, Angelina pushed open the door to Happy Hearth. She wasn't scheduled to be at work for another hour, but she knew they were getting busier. Everyone wanted a hot breakfast to fortify them on these freezing cold mornings - or for lunch or on their way home - and Happy Hearth was the place to go.

Waving at Sarah, who was manning the counter for a few days before returning to Hogwarts, Angelina began to peel off her scarf, coat, jacket, and gloves.

Hera waved at Angie as she walked out.

"You have a visitor," Sarah said excitedly. "I thought Kristen was lying when she said Hera Warbeck came in here all the time."

"Huh?" Angelina turned from where she'd been hanging up her coat to scan the bakery for Hera. When her eyes landed on the blonde, her face broke out into the grin. "Hera!" Bounding over, she threw her arms around her friend. "I didn't know you were back!"

"Have been since last Saturday, but I have some things to take care of first. My sister was finally well enough to return to England, so we did the holiday dinner that Saturday. So what about you? How was your Christmas? Get anything naked?"

Angelina pulled back with an amused look on her face. "Anything naked? As in... a dog? A cat? A doll? No. Nothing naked. How about you?"

"Actually, I was thinking about that man Marcus. Possibly Astoria. And no, I saw nothing naked. I got a gift certificate for Choyer from a certain person... which is the same thing I got him. I'll ask him if he wants to go with me, I think."

Grinning, Angelina pulled Hera back to the table she'd vacated, sliding into the seat across from the singer. "Oh really? That's... pretty nice. I got a gift certificate for there as well. I've never been."

"Oh, it's nice. The mud baths are great. I wasn't sure the first time I had one, but it's nice. And I heard a rumor that they might have a little branch here in Hogsmeade in that new gallery and portrait studio? The Cloister? I haven't been. Mother wants the Artisan to do a sitting with me. I haven't had a painting done since I was a child. So... who gave you the gift certificate? And have you been singing? I want to strangle Brody. I can't believe he closed the Sticks for the holidays."

Angelina blinked several times. "Alright, let me see if I can figure out how to answer you. The gift certificate was from Marcus, actually," she said, looking down at her hands with a small grin on her face. "I have been singing, but at Avalon, not the 'Sticks. Brody and Mac need a little time for their families, too, you know. Not to mention that Penelope and Jack were sick and holed up there for almost a week."

Hera quirked a brow at the idea of surly Marcus giving gifts at all. "Who's Penelope?"

"She used to work here on owl orders, but now she teaches at Sara Prep. She has a little boy named Jack who's adorable. She comes in every once in a while. Very nice. There's a thing between her and Brody, as well as between her and Jack's dad. It's all very... the women in the town are beginning to talk about it."

"She's not married to the father then?"

Angelina shook her head no.

"Fascinating. Who do you suppose will win? What's the father like? I can't imagine Brody losing to anyone."

"I don't suppose it's about winning. Percy is a good man, but he was gone for six years. I can't imagine," Angelina said before shaking her head, looking out the window and in the direction of the Three Broomsticks. "Enough about that. How was your Holiday?"

"Terrible. Demi poisoned herself... again, and the whole Christmas was postponed while some of us waited out her sickness in the Philippines. Then my father invited Pete to the dinner, and my brother Don decided to grill me about Jared. My brother Paul is dating a stick who is the least interesting person I know. Though Mum said we weren't formal this year, I got glared at by my sister Athena for wearing jeans and a jumper. My only solace was my niece Arie... who promises to come in here her next Hogsmeade visit. She'd a fifth year Gryffindor. Only bright spot in my holiday. I got her a new broom. Don's not happy about it. He doesn't want her playing quidditch. Girl's a seeker though, and she needed a fast broom. The man at the Quidditch supply place assured me a Firebolt was good. You played, yeah?"

It took a moment for Angelina to process everything that had been said. "I didn't even see my Mum on the holiday, if it makes you feel better. On the quidditch front, yes, I played. A Firebolt is a very good idea. Fast, manageable. It's a good choice." She frowned. "Why do they have a problem with Jared?"

"Don is a barrister for the Ministry. He's the eldest. He thinks he can have a say in the rest of our lives because of this - especially since I'm the youngest even though I am an adult. It's not really Jared he has troubles with. It's Jared's father - the one that was arrested recently for murder and rape and all that. Ethan Vaisey, but Jared is not his father. I know I'm not worldly as far as people are concerned, but I think I'd know if he were that sort. He let me take him on a hayride. He can't be that bad. Don still sees me at ten with braids. They all do. I'm the youngest by eight years. They were all in grade school or Hogwarts by the time I was born."

"I'd say they're just being protective, but it sounds like it might be more than that. I can't really help you at all. I never had any siblings... or a really close family, really. After my Dad... my Mum wasn't really the informed and caring type." Angelina reached out and patted Hera's hand. "If Jared really likes you, he'll stick around, family be damned."

"It's not as if I see them often," Hera said. "Arie and my brother Paul aside, I don't really understand the rest of them. Athena is an elder on the Wizengamot. Don is a top barrister for the Ministry. Paul, and I don't think I ever mentioned this, owns Ravenheart Publishing. They do those silly Aphrodite Jones books. Then Demi is going to be famous herbologist. She's already being recognized for her contributions. It's tough to measure up. Especially when my father doesn't consider what I do a real job."

Hera sighed.

"Enough of that. I am sorry you did not see your mother for the hols. What about your cousin Matt who I hear so much of?"

"He's supposed to be coming over sometime soon," Angelina answered, shrugging. "I have to add him into the wards, but that means I have to talk to Marcus about it. He's not going to like adding anyone in."

"Do you think he'd ever let me visit? I'd love to see where you lot live. I could bring a housewarming gift if it will soften him up. Though you'd have to let me know what he'd appreciate. He's not the sort I'd normally try to be friends with, but if you like him well enough to live with him, he can't be so bad."

Angelina laughed, imagining the little blonde girl handing a gift to Marcus. He would be scowling. It'd be pretty hilarious. "When I talk to him about adding Matt, maybe I'll mention your name too."

"That would be good. Then when Nigel tries to bully me about going back to touring before I want to, I can mention I am friendly with Marcus Flint," Hera said, laughing. She'd heard tales of that man. She didn't believe most of them, of course. He'd been in her home. He couldn't be that bad. He liked Angie. That made him better.

Laughing again, Angelina sat back in her chair. "Marcus would love being used as a threat. He thinks that's all he's good for."

"That can't be true," Hera said. "I don't suspect yourself or Astoria Dolohov would care for him if it were."

"It's not. We're just not close enough for me to beat it into him yet." Smiling slightly, Angelina lifted her arm, catching Sarah's attention before signaling for a drink. The smaller girl just nodded and smiled, moving to do so. Making sure to let Han know that the girl was doing a great job, Angelina turned back to Hera. "Things are still complicated. I'm just not sure what to do anymore."

It was hard, losing Alicia like she had. Katie's hands were full with being a new wife and now a new mother. Hera had become one of the only people Angelina could talk about these sorts of things to. She had genuinely missed the blonde while she'd been away.

"Well, I think you should do what you feel," Hera said, knowing it was easier said than done. "I long for romantic complications again. Especially with someone who seems genuinely interested in me when we are alone as opposed to only when others are watching. You know my door is always open to you. You've been really great to me. I'm always about, even if it's just to listen. I don't even mind if Astoria and Marcus come to fetch you again. I rather enjoy being so a part of life. I've never had such an exciting night."

Hera was considering. She really wanted to have a ladies night in and have some people over to her cottage. Entertain. Perhaps she could order food from the bakery.

Angelina shook her head. "You call that night exciting? Hera, we really need to get you out more. We could dye your hair black and have you come to to Avalon some night. That might make you change your idea of what's exciting." She grabbed the bottle of butterbeer from Sarah gratefully, smiling up at the younger girl. "Hera? I want you to meet Sarah Stewart. She is a big fan and is helping out until she goes back to Hogwarts."

Hera smiled at the girl. "My niece and nephew go to Hogwarts. She's a fifth year in Gryffindor. Plays Quidditch. Seeker. He's a fifth year in Ravenclaw."

"Sixth year Hufflepuff," Sara said nervously. "But my friend Pepper is a Gryffindor. Neither of us play Quidditch. You must mean Arie Warbeck though. I can't believe I am standing here talking to you... you're like.... famous."

Hera started laughing.

"Can I get you anything else?"

"I'm all right, thanks."

"Nobody is going to believe this."

Hera chuckled. It was still surreal to her when people were awestruck around her. "Well, the first Hogsmeade weekend after you lot are back, I'm supposed to meet Arie here for lunch. You come over and say hi. People will have to believe you then."

Sarah squealed and did this funny hopping thing before hurrying off.

Hera chuckled. "That's still weird to me."

"I think I'd be ecstatic if someone were to come up to me like that, amazed that they're even standing in front of him," Angelina said with a small smile. She knew she'd never achieve the success of Hera or Hera's mother, but it was nice to dream that her greatest passion and desire would work out for her in the end. "At least she didn't throw her knickers at you."

Hera chuckled. "I'd ask for you to do it, but I don't want Marcus to beat me."

Angelina shrugged, smirking at the blonde. "I haven't mastered the ability to pull off my knickers while wearing my trousers just yet. Perhaps I should invest in some of those lacy things that tie on the sides. That would make that particular talent much easier."

Hera started laughing. "I'm sure Marcus and Astoria would like that quite a bit. Or you could get some with snaps on the sides? Possibly Velcro? The rip-away kind like male stripper trousers."

She considered. Angelina in tear-away slacks was not an unpleasant thought. But Hera did like her limbs attached. She got the feel Marcus Flint did not share with anyone except his two girls.

A look of shock crossed over Angelina's face before she leaned forward on the table. "Hera! In what situation would you have learned about rip-way male stripper trousers?"

"Just because I haven't lived like most people doesn't mean I don't know about things. And Pete had a pair."

Angelina threw back her head, laughing loudly. She didn't need to know that Hera's ex-prat of a boyfriend had a pair of rip-away stripper trousers, but it was funny just the same. "Damn. For a second, I thought you were going to tell me that the backstage antics on your tour would sometimes get very interesting."

"No, no," Hera said, laughing. "Nigel makes sure everyone there is frightfully dull."



{SUMMARY} Hear checks in at the Happy Hearth with Angelina.