Who: Albus Dumbledore and Cassiopeia Black Where: Cottage by the Sea, Everdale When: Monday afternoon What: Catching up Warnings: None
Cottage by the Sea was situated upon a tree-covered outcropping that overlooked the sea, the beach below, and accessed by a small winding cobblestone road. The front door, domed and red, displayed a large holiday wreath. Cottage seemed to be an apt description, for the small structure seemed about 850 square feet to the keen eye. It was built from stone and fixed with weathered shingles, the paint of the wooden postings a deep Gryffindor red. A stairway crept up and along the small tower, ending in a homely balcony that led inside what had to be the highest point of the humble home. The windows were all aglow with candles, making it difficult to peek inside amidst the glare.
Beyond the candlelight, Albus Dumbledore hummed brightly to himself in the kitchen on the main floor, a series of familiar holiday tunes that were filled with cheerful vigor for what they lacked in musical proficiency. He wore a black turtleneck sweater beneath a white apron, his sleeves rolled up as he engaged in the rigorous task of making (and baking) cookies. The ingredients were bewitched to set themselves upon the wooden counter for him (how helpful of them!) but otherwise Albus did it all by his own hand, rather than by charm as was often the wizarding fashion. The current batch were nutmeg-pumpkin, and rather wonderfully the whole cottage was filled with the aroma.
A bell chime drew the tall, stocky wizard (old age would eventually thin him out) from his task. It meant a visitor approached, and a cry from Fawkes upstairs confirmed the sentiment. Ah! Very good, indeed. So as to not pause his progress while he greeted Miss Black, Albus gave himself the allowance of drawing out his wand. It was fifteen inches long and rather queer in its appearance, due notably to the carvings of what appeared to be elderberries along the shaft. The Elder Wand, in truth, though no one but Albus and Gellert Grindelwald himself was wise to it. The professor gave it an elegant wave with his long fingers and spoke a charm that set the rest of the cookies into motion to deliver them into the heated stove. With this accomplished, Albus removed his apron in favor of what could only be described as a wizard's smoking jacket in deep burgundy and gold brocade; the back of it extended down into a kind of robe or cape that trained behind him at his feet. The wand was quietly slipped into a wand pocket on the right breast (for Dumbledore was left-handed).
The door opened inward and Albus slightly crouched through the stoop to greet Cassiopeia as she neared the cottage. His face was bright and jolly as he stepped out in his fur-lined slippers to wave in her direction.
"A merry Christmas season to you, my dear Miss Black! Welcome, welcome!"