{ 🐍 } It was finally Friday. Classes were over for the week and Baekhyun had very little homework to complete over the weekend. It was also a Hogsmeade weekend. He couldn’t be any more pleased with the upcoming couple days. That was until dinner, when he realized all his friends had dates for the weekend and he was left going solo. It wasn’t that he minded spending time alone, but he was looking forward to some time relaxing with friends. Looks like he would have to find something else to do with his time.
He ended up being one of the last few students to leave the Great Hall that night, having gotten sucked into a conversation with an upperclassman. After they said their goodbye’s, Baekhyun snagged a few more desserts before he started to make his way down toward the dungeons. Just as he was leaving, a student up ahead caught his eye; a familiar blonde he tended to spend his holidays with (but rarely any other time). He only a hesitated for a moment before he called out. “Hey, Luhan-!”
Nathan, despite being friendly, still firmly believed in house loyalties and house rivalries.
It was something he grew up in, considering he went to a muggle boarding school before Hogwarts. They also had houses, rivalries, and numerous competitions to take out the excess energy from the students. It was, for all intents and purposes, ingrained into his system. Hogwarts and its culture of house loyalties wasn’t something new to him.
But the fact still remains that he was partnered with a bloody Gryffindor.
He never could appreciate classes with Gryffindors. Despite the many centuries that passed, the rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor was still as strong as ever. Imaginary lines between the two houses were never crossed, unless one was actively seeking trouble. If he was being honest about it, he’d rather deal with the Ravens and Puffs together than these kittens.
When class ended, he groaned and purposely slowed down packing his stuff. He had free period until his next class, and if he wasn’t wrong, they were going to have to talk about the project. When he finished packing up, he sighed and hoisted up his bag on his shoulder, walking towards where his partner was. His partner who had the completely opposite personality against Nathan’s.
Bah humbug, but that's too strong cause it is my favorite holiday... [*he hums to himself, walking down the fairly empty hallways -- most students have gone home for the holidays, so the place is desolate. he drums on his thigh rhythmically, clicking his tongue and inevitably pausing -- he can't sing for too long without getting subconscious. he'd thought that he'd stopped but a voice still floated beautifully in the hallways...] hm? [*squints to himself, tilting his head, and gravitating towards the melodic sound. eventually he reaches a classroom, and he gingerly peers around the door frame, looking in to see a busy and small figure singing to himself.]
A neatly packaged tin of cookies appears at the foot of your bed. On it is a note that says "I’m sorry I hit you, let’s try and be friends? From: Luhan" Merry Christmas from us here at Hogwarts and we hope you enjoy the holidays!
grabbing and opening another one, he smiles again upon reading the message on the card. "sure" he replies with a small chuckle, taking one cookie from the tin and taking it in one mouthful (like cheese)
(`takes the mistletoe away with a small but friendly smile)
( ` / follows his hand and he frowns when he takes the mistletoe because ) 3... 2.. 1 .. ( ` / the mistletoe disappears from Lu Han's hands and hangs on top of his head again -- he shrugs ) tried that.. didn't work. thank you, though. ( ` / smiles )
(/he sits in the chair, back straight. His Adam's apple bobs as he swallows, staring at the tall set of oak doors. Beyond them, he hears the party going on in full swing, the music so loud that it isn't a stretch of the imagination to believe that he can feel it pulsing beneath his skin)
(...One breath, and two.)
(/He's dressed up for the occasion in a dress shirt and slacks, polished black leather shoes and an open suit jacket. He fidgets with his tie, getting more antsy by the minute. He was told to wait here. He is going to explode)
The best frosting for decorative cupcakes would be either buttercream or a cream cheese frosting, I would recommend buttercream due to the slight tangyness in cream cheese, but whatever tickles your fancy.
In order for the frosting to have enough body (be thick enough) to hold up, you need a good base to start with. Make sure not to add to much liquid, or allow your ingredients to be too warm. I would not recommend using muggle canned (pre-made) frosting to pipe on cupcakes, it’s usually not firm enough to hold up. Some people add powdered sugar to canned frosting to thicken it, but this is foolishness because it's easier to make it yourself. Some witches try and use excessive magic to create the perfect icing, they just get ridiculously messy.
I'll teach you how to make the perfect buttercream... Any suggestions on flavours? We'll go for lemon shall we?
Ohkay!
Basic buttercream frosting comprises of butter, icing sugar and milk.
I'll make enough frosting for 16 cupcakes. To start off, you'll need 500g icing sugar, 120g unsalted butter, 30ml fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest and 2 tablespoons milk. You'll be able judge these quantities in time and add more lemon zest or juice or both - all depends on your audience's tastes.
And the rest is easy peasy.
Just beat all the ingredients, save the milk, until smooth. You might want to add the icing sugar in bit by bit, depends on how patient you are. The key to avoiding a lumpy icing is doing this incredibly slowly and precisely. When that's done? Add in the milk slowly, still beating it.
Voila. Icing.
Feel free to add some food colouring or concentrated gel colouring to experiment with different shades. Or you can try a basic colour changing charm. Does everybody remember? No? It's Colovaria. And make sure you're pointing your wand at the target, for goodness sakes.
Now!
Basic decorating... Observe,
(Left to Right) Large round tip, Open star (Wilton 1M), Closed star (Wilton 2D), French tip.
I've left out the more difficult nozzles... You can study them privately and submit in a cupcake having used a more difficult icing nozzle for extra credit.
To frost cupcakes, you’ll want to use a large (sometimes called jumbo) decorating tip. The four most common shapes (openings) are shown above. The Wilton 1M and 2D are often available at muggle craft stores... But there's a new shop opening next to Beauxbatons, we'll go there on a field trip next week.
I like to use a coupler to hold my tips in place, for these large tips you’ll need a large coupler as well. Large tips can also be used without a coupler, by simply setting the tip inside the bag, then filling with frosting.
Hold the bag steadily, work from the outside towards the in. Frosting requires a steady hand... Don't rush.
And when you're done? You may add sprinkles, and pearls, and glitter and everything your heart desires. Don't over do it. Remember! It has to ultimately look pretty.
