walking at night

Khaat led them the short distance to her cobblestone cottage and let them all inside. "Make yourselves at home, " she told them, taking off her cloak. Archangel flew to the back of a chair and perched there. "I'll be right back." She went into the kitchen and conjured two large insulated pitchers, one with hot spiced cider, and one with hot cocoa. She 'accio'ed 4 of the large handthrown stoneware mugs her mother made that she loved so much and gathered them together. She gathered up a tray of plates, napkins, silverware, some of the fresh cinnamon cookies she'd made earlier that day, and some assorted tea sandwiches, and used an enchantment so she could walk into the living room with all the refreshments following her. They placed themselves on the coffee table. "Help yourselves," Khaat smiled, sitting with them.

Garulia amused Khaat. She liked him. She wasn't sure why, but she did like hiim. "Thank you," she said to him, "I'm glad you like it. Help yourself to the snacks.

Just then, her two cats, Mo and Max came out of hiding to meet the guests. "Come on in, guys," Khaat called to them. "The big orange tabby is Mo, and the white cat is Max. Both of them are male muggle cats, but they are very friendly. They love people, and they love attention." Khaat conjured two little bowls of chicken pieces for them and one for Archangel.

"There. Now everybody is fed. Perhaps you should think about hiring someone to help with some of all those things you have to do between now and then, Jess. You do remember that stress is not healthy for you--right? You might have to help her reduce that, Jack." Khaat poured herself a mug of the cider.

Khaat smiled. She liked him. "I don't recall seeing you around Hogwarts, Garulia. Did I just miss you someplace? I generally remember students once we've been introduced or once I've seen them around." She had a feeling the young man was homeless and trying to live in a tent in January. That did bother her. He needed, as far as Khaat was concerned, either a sturdier place and a better way of earning money, or he needed to return to Hogwarts. And she wanted to help him if she could. She smiled, thinking of all the students that she was befriending and helping. She had a half vision of her house filled with all sorts of wayward teens. And that was a happy thought.