the city never sleeps

Penny had taken advantage of the temporary break in drizzly weather and donned an outfit perfect for both the warm weather and for a daylight outing with her best friend to get in some much needed shopping. The weather was finally beginning to turn around, slowly but surely transitioning from cold to warm. The sun had been shining most of the last month, though the air had remained frigid. Now that the air was as warm as it looked, Penny felt happy to be free from their uniforms.

They had left among the usual gaggle of Slytherins, as they all headed down for the Hogsmeade weekends together. Fortunately, Penny had had the foresight (yes, let's call it that) to forget to pin her hat to her hair. A gust of wind had blown it off, giving Audrey and her an excuse to chase after it. By the time she had secured it atop her head again, the crowd was far from the two Slytherin girls, giving them a nice opportunity to breathe.

Penny giggled, always giddy when a day of shopping was ahead of her. She was rifling through her purse, just checking that she had indeed brought every little necessity, especially her money. She had forgotten her money bag before, and had always been mortified. Today, however, she had not forgotten anything. It was already shaping up to be a good day.

"Where to?" Penny said, looking at her best friend as they neared the quaint little village.

Audrey looked around, a huge smile on her face. Her cheeks were flushed after running for Penny's hat, and from the excitement towards the coming day. She looked and saw the shops and such scattered around her and her friend, and the money in her pocket calling to be spent. "Shopping, or bar hopping first?" she asked, with a teasing smile.

Audrey was kidding of course - or so Penny had to hope. The Macnair girl was one of the few purebloods that did not make drinking into a hobby. She sipped at champagne and wine at the black tie events, naturally, but she was not one to guzzle down Firewhiskey and vodka. She was very bent on the ideas of being a proper lady, and she simply did not like the idea of losing control of herself.

"Shopping," she said, confidence in her voice. She laughed. "What were you planning on getting?"

Audrey slipped in a gentle smile, "Kidding as always, Penny, love." she teased. Audrey knew better than to wave alcohol in Penny's face as a temptation. The elder Macnair daughter had her priorities just in line, and Audrey wouldn't try to change it for anything. "Well, I need some sort of dress. And candy. And....everything else...." Audrey said with a laugh, hoping her friend would take pity on her famous indecisiveness. "Help?" she asked, laughing.

Penny smiled as Audrey clarified. Audrey was the joker between them - jokes and taunts were typically lost on naive Penny, who was too serious for her own good. She usually took everything literally, so Audrey always made sure to reassure her friend when she ventured out to joke.

Penny laughed as Audrey gave up. Penny was the expert shopper between them. She was thrifty, decisive, and practical. She was the world's fastest shopper - for females anyway. "We'll get you what you need. Bathing suits too - swim season is getting closer every day."

Audrey smiled at the thought of summer and sighed. "Yes. Bathing suits." She said, with a hint of loathing. Audrey hated bathing suit shopping. Despite popular belief, she was very self concience about her body. But that's why Penny always come shopping with her; she was one of the only people who could be honest, and still convince her that something looks good.

Audrey started walking towards one of the nearest shops, Penny next to her, and shrugged toward the store. "Here first? Or did you have something in mind?"

Penny smiled, putting a comforting hand on Audrey's shoulder. Penny had been good so far. Good. She had been eating as she was supposed to, and had gone for months without breaking down because of it. Her workouts had become less strenuous, less rigorous, because they had nearly killed her.

She should be fine today. She hoped she would.

Audrey pointed out a store and Penny squinted into the window. The garments looked classy enough, so she nodded. "Looks good as any."

Audrey shook her and and smiled a bit. She really didn't want anything to ruin today, and she knew that Penny could relate to her feelings about it. "I'm sorry I've been so distant, lately, love." She sighed. "Let's make up for it today, alright?" She smiled, and headed toward the door to the shop closest.

Penny smiled kindly, cocking her head as she looked fondly at Audrey. The words she had spoken to Padril in her best friend's favor floated into her mind, multiplying her affection for the bolder Slytherin girl. "It's alright," she said, her voice sweet as honey. "I'm just glad to be out of the castle and with you." Alright, enough with the affection.

She took a few more steps, before suddenly blurting, "Do you know Padril Crennent? He's a Hufflepuff."

Audrey was a bit taken aback when her friend mentioned a Hufflepuff boy, which was shocking in itself since Penny rarely took her by real surprise, but she laughed it off easily. "Oh you know, darling, Hufflepuffs don't favor me much." she commented, with a playful wink. The comment was mostly for humor, but it didn't lack some truth. Of all the houses, Hufflepuffs disliked her the most.

"Why, who is he?" she asked curiously, eager to hear her friend's relationship with this boy.