Autumn is in full color here in Scotland, but while that is enough to rave about all on its own, I know that what we're really headed for is lots of dead, brown leaves that are wet and mushy and wet and slippery and did I mention wet? Not that I've actually slipped on them or anything.
However, all those currently brightly colored trees got me to thinking. As we turn the corner towards the bleaker part of the year, what's more heartening than bright pops of color in our lives, just like all those red and yellow leaves? This was my thought process as I headed into Hogsmeade this past weekend for a lovely break from the pressures of both school and Quidditch.
Naturally, I headed straight for that most endorphin-laden establishment of them all, Zonko's - er - Honeydukes, hoping for some color-laden inspiration to ford me through the bleak weeks to come (not to mention all the sweet treats those colors contain). To the surprise of no one ever, the display window was replete with a veritable rainbow of colors - just the way I like it. I never was one to latch onto just one color. I do like the variety, and the brighter the better - which is why I object so strenuously to the dull drearies of late autumn.
"Well, well, well," I said, happily, "What will brighten up our common room the most?" It was a hard choice. What would cheer everyone in Slytherin up the most? The deep purple-blue of a Chocolate Frogs box? The festive stripes of a Bertie Botts box with its rainbow of beans? What about the bright green Acid Pops or the brilliant yellow Sherbet Lemons?
Needless to say, results were mixed. Literally. I ran into Honeydukes, plonked down all the Galleons I'd brought with me onto the counter, and yelled at the startled clerk, "I'll take the lot!" After several very chaotic minutes, everyone calmed down, and several amused customers helped me pick out the most colorful assortment of treats possible, contained in a bright pink and teal bowl with the iconic Honeydukes logo on it that was donated by the shop itself on condition that it be put in the common room and only filled with Honeydukes products. I tried to explain that really, it was just the brightly colored display I was after, but with all the handshaking and smiles, I don't know that I really got my point across.
After that, it was just a matter of hauling my candy loot back to Hogwarts and setting up the colorful display not too near the fireplace in the common room. Honestly, just passing by that cheerful bowl still makes me smile. If I had to choose one treat I thought was the most uplifting? I'm tempted to choose the fizzing whizzbees as they have a special spot in my heart for reasons, but it's gotta be those sherbet lemons. Yellow may not be my "favorite" color per se, as I said earlier, but it sure makes me feel happy inside!