Sweets and Treats ((Elsie))

[Connor Coxen]

“Beautiful darling.” Yasmin said giving Connor a kiss on the forehead as the youngest Coxen played the piano. Connor smiled slightly as he continued on playing a new piece that Bruce had selected for him to work on over the summer. Connor was under strict orders to perfect five pieces of music over vacation. Connor would do so and he didn’t mind much but one thing did bother him. Bruce would merely nod and say ‘nice good’ dulling if Connor did amazing on a piece. Bruce wouldn’t be truly proud of his youngest son and this bothered Connor. The only thing that Bruce approved of Connor was in his music. It was Bruce’s idea to get Connor involved with piano anyways simply so he could dictate something in his son’s life. Bruce saw Connor just as his other sons, disappointing. Connor wanted to say that Bruce favored him over Chace and Oz but he knew that he didn’t. He would always favor Cora. And Riley, well she didn’t want to be favored so she wasn’t. Connor saw her as the most talented Coxen child, but she refused to show it. She didn’t want Bruce to approve of her and she never would. Connor sighed and continued on with the new piece as Bruce sat in his chair in the corner watching his son and shaking his head.

This went on for another two hours before Yasmin decided that Connor had enough practicing, but Bruce of course didn’t agree. “He’s been at that piano for three hours, Bruce. He should be having fun.” Yasmin protested. “You can’t baby him forever Yasmin.” It was about that time that Connor excused himself from the room. He hated when they fought especially over something so silly. Connor didn’t mind the practice. But Yasmin knew her son well enough to know that if he did he wouldn’t tell Bruce. Connor still wanted to please him even if it would never be enough. Connor walked along the hall but instead of turning to his room he kept on to Riley’s. He knocked on the door lightly before entering. Riley sat on her bed listening to music. He smiled lightly and sat next to her. She took her head-phones out and eyed Connor. “Listen to them.” He said eyeing the door. Yasmin and Bruce weren’t yelling but they were quarrelling a bit. Riley rolled her eyes not at Connor but at them. She gave him a look as to say, ‘what else is new?’. Connor sighed. “Hey, let’s go to Hogsmeade.” His eyes lit up. “Please. I don’t want to be here now. Let’s go shopping and then have lunch at The Three Broomsticks.” Riley didn’t seem too thrilled at the idea, but she finally gave in to her little brother.

“How long will you be?” Yasmin asked as she adjusted Connor’s collar. “Only an hour or two.” She nodded. Bruce sat in his chair reading a book. Yasmin looked to Riley as she smiled nicely. Yasmin and Riley babied Connor more than anyone. Of course Cora and Bruce didn’t. Oz did the exact opposite of babying. Chace was the one that treated him normally and Connor was grateful for that. Connor would always look up to his oldest brother more than anyone. He looked over to Bruce who was too concerned with his book to look at the youngest of the Coxens. Okay so Connor was the youngest but Riley and Oz were only older by a year. “Well, have fun.” Yasmin said warmly. The two nodded before heading to Hogsmeade on the Floo Network. They arrived promptly and Riley bickered as they walked down the street. She would rather be in her room listening to her music. Connor sighed. “You need the fresh air.” He insisted. Riley sighed but Connor ignored it. “C’mon. Honeydukes!” He pointed to the store as he pulled Riley inside behind him.

Connor had to stop himself from running in. He loved the treats and gifts that the store offered. He smiled warmly greeted some employees her knew and a few familiar faces from Hogwarts. He hummed to himself before finding a rack of lollipops and heading over. Connor then looked over his shoulder and eyed Riley who in the corner sulking. Connor sighed and marched over to her. “C’mon Riles!” He said loudly. But Riley didn’t smile or anything and Connor didn’t expect her to. He sighed. “Okay how bout this. You go to the Three Broomsticks and get a table. I’ll meet you there in a little while.” Riley nodded after a second and then left the store. Connor shook his head as he headed over to the chocolates. “Silly girl.” He mumbled. Connor continued to looked around as he grinned brightly. He couldn’t help it. Honeydukes made him feel like a little kid and he missed that feeling. After all, that was out of the question at home. Connor sighed and continued to poke around the store until someone appeared beside him looking at the same candies Connor was. He smiled as she eyed the Licorice Wands. “Those are good but so are the Ice Mice.” He said nicely as he pointed to his favorite candy. He then eyed the exploding bon-bons knowing that Oz would have great fun with those. He chuckled. “Oh I’m Connor by the way. Hi.”

((G-moding of Riley approved))

[Elsie Bee Covens R3]

Ellie lay on the wooden floorboards in the hallway, as the rest of her family stepped around her or sometimes on her. Mostly it was Sparrow who would tread on her. Ellie often wondered if Sparrow was blind, or even deaf, as she shouted at him whenever he would smack her in the head as he bounded down the hall. She stared at the light hall and groaned. She had been like this all day. There was nothing that would capture Ellie's interest for more that fifteen minutes. She had begged her mother to let her go to Hogsmeade for a while, but her mother had said no. So then Ellie asked her father. He simply replied, "Ask your Mam." before returning his attention to the television. Ellie stomped off and had ended up in the hall. She had no desire to go into her room, there was nothing to do in there except homework and then stare at the wall for hours until dinner was ready. So with a great sight of defeat, Ellie slumped to the floor.

Sophie had come up first to her with a quizzical look on her face. "What are you doing?" Sophie asked, with a whiny edge to her voice. Ellie looked in her direction and simply answered, "Staring." Sophie became more confused. "Why?" Ellie sighed. She could tell where this was going. "Because I'm bored." She answered, looking back at the ceiling. "Why?" Sophie asked again, this time with a frown on her face. Ellie groaned and sat up, only to spot Katie coming towards her two sisters. "What's Ellie doing on the floor?" She asked Sophie, her childish face spreading into a grin. Sophie turned to her and jabbed a finger towards Ellie. "She's staring and she won't tell me why!" Katie giggled and looked at Ellie again. By this time, Ellie was standing up, glaring down at Sophie. Katie tilted her had to the side, her hair falling over her wide eyes. "Why?" Ellie groaned and stomped back into the living room.

"Daaaaaaaaaad!" She complained and flopped onto the couch next to him. "Sophie and Katie are annoying me!!" She told him. Sophie and Katie had run off now, giggling as they ran into the backyard. "What are they doing?" Ian asked his daughter, eyes still glued to the tv, as he watched something on fishing or golf, Ellie couldn't tell, but it seemed rather impossible that it was Fishing, as Ian didn't like fishing. But there was a boat and a pond, so Ellie couldn't figure it out. "They're annoying me!" Ellie repeated, clicking her fingers trying to gain his attention. Ian waved her hand away, eyes still never leaving the television. "Stop that, I heard you the first time. What I meant is, what are they doing that is annoying you?" Ellie pulled a face. "They're asking stupid questions. You know, the 'Why?' question." Ian grumbled in agreement. How he had heard the 'Why?" questions many times in his time at being a father. "They won't leave me alone. I was doing something very important!" Ian's eyes finally left the tv, his face doubting his daughters words. "What were you doing that was so important?" Ellie pouted. "I wasn't doing anything, but still! They're annoying me! Dad! Make them stop!" Ellie was determined to get her father to stop Sophie and Katie at their pestering habits. "They've stopped now." 'Briefly,' Ian thought, as Ellie groaned again pushing her dad slightly. "But they'll keep doing it!! Dad! Make them stop!" Ian grabbed the remote and switched off the television. Ellie thought he was going to go into the backyard and yell at Sophie and Katie, but he turned to look at Ellie. "Bribe them with something. Then they'll stop." 'Briefly,' Ian thought, yet again.

Ellie jumped up. She knew exactly what she could bribe the twins with, but unfortunately, she had run out. But Ellie had another plan. She raced into the laundry to where she had seen her mother last, but found the room empty. "Mam?!" Ellie shouted out, before hearing her mother's call from outside. Ellie ran outside to see her mother hanging clothes up on the washing line. "Mam, I know you said no, but Soph and Kate are annoying me, so I thought, maybe I could go to Honeydukes - you know, that sweets shop in Hogsmeade," Ellie told her mother after she opened her mouth with a confused look. "And get the twins some chocolate or something. That'd make them happy and they won't be annoying me anymore, because I got them the chocolate! So can I? Pleeease?!" Melissa considered this for a few seconds before sighing and nodding her head. "Okay fine, but not for too long, okay?" Ellie squealed and jumped up and down, before hugging her mother. Finally! Something to do!

Ellie skipped around Honeydukes, looking around for things she could buy for herself. And her sisters of course. There was so much variety, so much to choose from. Ellie picked up a few chocolate frogs. She knew that her sisters would love those. She'd have to convince them that they weren't real frogs first though. She had picked up three packets of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and then moved over towards the Licorice wands. Her dad might like a few of those. Ellie heard a voice coming from the boy next to her. She turned, to listen to what he was saying and then reached over and grabbed one of the Ice-Mice that he was talking about. "I'm Elsie - oh um, Ellie. Nickname." Ellie grinned but suddenly one of the packets of chocolate frogs shot out of her grip and hit the shelf, causing the licorice wands to tumble out of it's container. A staff member from behind the desk heard the noise and looked up to frown at Ellie. "Bah! Well. I'm Ellie, and I drop things." She muttered.