"Dumbledore, what a surprise to meet you here!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed, surprised. She walked over to his table. "Your are alone? Are you expecting somebody?"

"Ah, Minerva, take a seat," Dumbledore replied, putting his glass back on the table. "I am merely enjoying a nice butterbeer. Fancy one?"

"Well, I am in rather a hurry today, Albus –"

"Then it is essential you rest a bit. Which, incidentally, is exactly what I am doing, having nearly overexerted myself im London," Dumbledore said, conjuring another glass for Professor McGonagall.

Sitting down on an empty chair, Professor McGonagall cocked an eyebrow at him.

"For a man my age, shopping becomes increasingly demanding," Dumbledore answered her silent question. "I will definitely take a rucksack next time, my back doesn't really enjoy all those heavy bags."

Professor McGonagalls eyebrow moved even higher. "You know, Albus, being a wizard actually makes it possible to get all your shopping home without needing to stop by at St Mungos. What did you buy?"

"Don't you think vanishing seventeen large bags in the middle of a crowd of Muggles will attract attention?" Professor McGonagall's eyes travelled over his shining lilac wizard's robes, the yellow stars embroidered on it and the tall pointed hat Dumbledore had deposited next to his glass. Following her gaze, Dumbledore smiled and took a gulp of butterbeer. "Well, it's carnival."

"On the other side of the earth, yes, but definitely not in London, not today. So what did you get, Albus?"

Dumbledore stooped down under the table, rummaging in one of his bags. "That reminds me, I wanted to ask your opinion on a matter of great personal importance." He emerged again, a magazine in his hands.

Professor McGonagall leafed through it. "Knitting patterns? You realise this magazine focusses on patterns for toddlers?"

"I just wanted to know whether the bears or the hearts suit me better."