An Ice Cream After The Park

Hester pushed open the door and stepped inside the ice cream parlour. She had been here before, last year, but then she had been on her own. This time she had a friend. She smiled to herself and held the door open for Serenity.

"What are you going to have?" she asked. "I might have the peanut butter one; I know I like that one."

Inside the Ice Cream Parlour was bright and cheerful, although the noise level was low and, surprisingly, there weren't many other students in there.

"Cookie dough does sound nice," said Hester dubiously. She paused. "Nah, I think I'll have the peanut butter. You'll have to tell me if the cookie dough's nice."

She stepped up to the counter seeing as Serenity had stepped aside to let her. That was polite, she thought. She liked the fact that Serenity seemed to be slowly getting used to her. Things were only worth it if you had to work for them, and she was certainly having to work for this friendship, but she could already see the results.

"Can I have a peanut butter icecream with chopped nuts, please," Hester asked the shop assistant, and handed over her money.

She stood licking her ice cream while Serenity ordered.

"Do you wanna sit in here?" Hester asked. "Or outside? It's a nice day."

There were some tables and chairs just outside of the cafe, and Hester wondered if it would be nice to site out there. She decided to leave the decision up to Serenity, if she wanted to decide.

The girl seemed to be feeling more relaxed around Hester, at least that was what it seemed like. That she was finally getting used to her. Hester felt a sense of achievement. There was still a long way to go, but it seemed as if they were, if not friends yet, then something more than acquaintances.

Hester smiled as Serenity held the door open. She ducked through.

"Thanks," she said, and then waited for Serenity to follow.

"Here?" she asked, pointing to a table shaded by a striped parasol. "Or here?" Another table, this time without a parasol. She licked her ice cream, which was beginning to melt slightly.

Hester licked her ice cream thoughtfully. She knew that she didn't have long before she had to go meet her cousin and get the train home.

"I can't stay too long," she said, feeling sad, even though Serenity was difficult to talk to. She was finding she liked the girl a lot. "My cousin will be finishing her shopping soon."

She paused.

"Will we be able to see each other at Hogwarts sometimes?" she asked.

"That's cool," said Hester, smiling. For a moment she had thought that the girl had gone back to her original, icy cold state, but then she spotted the slightly upturned lips. She gave Serenity a grin in return.

She finished off her ice cream. She was a quick eater.

Then she checked her watch.

"I really have to go... Matt'll be waiting for me," she said regretfully. She knew that Matt wouldn't want to stay here much longer on her own.

"I'll see you soon, yeah?" she said and stood up.

"Bye," replied Hester, smiling.

She waved to Serenity, just a small wave, before disappearing around the corner to where her cousin, Matt, would be waiting. She had enjoyed that meeting despite Serenity being quite cool at first. She smiled to herself. She was meant to be a Gryffindor. She was brave when talking to people, loyal and she never gave up.