The Leaky Cauldron

[Ethan]

((well, I personally love everything about English, so... to each his or her own, I guess.))

[[deleted user]]

Alexis wrote: "((There's no sorry, Ethan. Destroy that homework and then plant a flag on its smoking remains. The rest of us'll cheer.))

Colin's eyes twinkled. "Hopefully. Although just a few sparks might help t..."

"On that note, I was hoping for a bit more of a bash with Dmitri and Imogen greeting each other, but I was sorely disappointed." Elizabeth made a clicking noise with her tongue. "Other than Imogen looking like she had to hold a live fish in her hands, nothing really happened." She looked truely disappointed at the prospect.

[DragonDreamer]

((I like chemistry :) heehee. Possibility of explosions is a big reason for that))

[[deleted user]]

"Snake, then," Elizabeth shuddered. She had encountered many of the scaly reptiles on her journeys. She had the scars to prove how nasty they could be. "I hate snakes. So she was holding a spider slash snake." She made a face that was a mix between a grimace and a grin. "Oh, the sparks are already flying. I really don't care who becomes Minister, I just want it to be someone who knows how to run places. Even if it is that slimeball Balakin." Elizabeth glanced meaningfully at Colin. "If you get what I mean."

[[deleted user]]

"I reside my case," Elizabeth replied, meaning her earlier statement about how she hated snakes. She nodded agreement. "Millipede it is." She took another sip of her drink, sitting back in her chair. "Hopefully something happens soon, or I spose I will have wasted my time." She glanced at Colin. "Well, not entirely."

[[deleted user]]

"I'm not entirely familiar with the Aurors these days," Elizabeth mused. "I know plenty of them, but they're all in retirement." Her brows were furrowed. "I met the Minister's son once. He didn't seem like the type of bloke to just run off. If he did run off, it was because something really big happened. I think the kidnapping theory is more likely. It is just the sort of thing that would throw the Ministry world in chaos, and anybody with a brain could figure that out. So I reckon whoever did it is planning to do something big after this, because you don't just throw the world into a mess if you're just going to sit back and watch."

[[deleted user]]

Elizabeth chuckled. "I hear just last week there was a case of biting silverware. I could hear the excited squeals of the reporter next door from my office. She does all sorts of headline stuff about Ministry slip-ups. She was ecstatic this morning about the whole Ministry fiasco. A tart if I ever saw one."

[[deleted user]]

"I doubt she'd be so happy about another attack if she went along," said Elizabeth drily. She drained her drink and pondered getting another, then dismissed the idea. She hadn't been drunk in a long time, and while the actual intoxication felt wonderful, the hangover was not worth risking. So she asked for a water with a twist of lime to cleanse her palette. "I didn't know it was so serious. Any idea who's behind it?"

[DragonDreamer]

βιβλιοφάγος (a.k.a. Cat) wrote: "DragonDreamer wrote: "Laurel smiled. "My day has been fantastic, thank you! Yes, that bit of news was rather sad. I hope they find her son soon. I wonder if he perhaps simply disapparated once he r..."

Laurel nodded. "I'm sure they will find him, too. Things usually work out for the best. You don't care for these gatherings? I suppose it is occurring under unfortunate circumstances and no one appears to be drunk yet, but I'm sure the night will turn out to be just wonderful! Can't you feel it?" She beamed positively, taking a sip of her water and sighed happily, looking over the shy Skye. "Do you have a boyfriend, Skye?"

[DragonDreamer]

Ethan [The Twelfth Doctor] wrote: "Aiyana, A PotterWhoLockian wrote: "DragonDreamer wrote: "Robin giggled a bit and shook her head.
"I could never be Minister. Too much pressure and publicity. I get chills just thinking about it." A..."

Robin nodded earnestly, "Yes! That would be wonderful! And very sweet of you, Friand." She smiled, taking in the last of her firewhiskey. "Hey, how did you and your wife meet?" She asked unconsciously, ordering another drink.

[Ethan]

"Ummm... well, that's not something someone usually asks me off the bat." He quietly laughed a little to himself. "Well, it was in Egypt, we were both doing a tour of the wizarding world after graduating Hogwarts, and I was in a cafe, ordering a scone. She walked in, and she took my breath away. she was wearing a white shirt and khaki capris, and I remember thinking that she couldn't possibly be more beautiful. I got up out of my chair, walked over to her and offered to by here whatever she wanted there. I was terrified, of course, I've never been one to talk to women, but she agreed and I got her a Pumpkin Spice latte and we sat and talked for hours after that, until supper. I asked her out for supper, she agreed, and the rest is history." His eyes were far away, as if he were reliving the moment as he said it, which in fact he was. He turned his eyes back to Robin. "Well, that's how we met, and now we've been married for twenty wonderful years." He nodded and smiled again, drinking from his water.

[[deleted user]]

Elizabeth

"It is a wonder that you are still in the department if you are as clumsy as you make yourself out to be," said Elizabeth jokingly, smiling broadly. She downed the rest of her water and bit the side of her cheek. She didn't really have anything to do at the Prophet, but there wasn't too much going on at the Cauldron because she could feel the conversation between her and Colin dragging a little.

Skye

"Good always has to win in the end," Skye agreed, her voice quiet. At least she understood that part. She had never read - or written - a story where good didn't eventually win. It was the unspoken law of humanity. She blushed red, even though she didn't know why because she had never had a boyfriend. "No," she answered. It was a funny question to ask right off the bat, Skye decided, but she didn't question it. It wasn't her personality to question things. "Do, er, um, you, Laurel?"

[Ethan]

"Uh, goodbye then, I guess. It was good talking to you. I hope to do so again soon." He smiled brightly as she slung her bag over her shoulder. "And good luck with that busy day. I hate those." He drank some more butterbeer from his bottle, looking around the leaky cauldron to see who was all there..

[Aiyana, A PotterWhoLockian]

Hannah and Neala chatted for a bit more, until another customer came up and Hannah left to take care of him. Neala glanced around at everybody, then pulled out a piece of paper and started to read it. She was oblivious to all those around her, and when she finished reading the front and back of the paper, she pulled out another one from her pocket and started to read this one.

[DragonDreamer]

βιβλιοφάγος (a.k.a. Cat) wrote: "Elizabeth

"It is a wonder that you are still in the department if you are as clumsy as you make yourself out to be," said Elizabeth jokingly, smiling broadly. She downed the rest of her water and ..."

"No? I'm surprised, you're such a sweet girl I would think guys would be falling over themselves for you." She shrugged. "Oh no, I'm not one for relationships." She chuckled, shrugging off the question. "However, I admit I am a bit of a matchmaker when it comes to predicting them. You know about 80% of the relationships I predict actually materialize? And of that 80%, 75% end up successfully." She took another sip of her water, looking slightly bashful, as though she were admitting a secret. "What can I say? I'm a sucker for love. I always make up these little scenarios in my mind like I'm writing the story of how they got together." She sighed. "You know what I mean?"

[DragonDreamer]

Litera wrote: "Oliver

"What? Sorry, I wasn't listening," Oliver said, turning back to face the group he was stood with. "Sure - I'm putting my name forward for Minister - why not? It'll be a laugh," he grinned, ..."

Robin tried to imagine Oliver as the Minister of Magic and shuddered. Thoughts of the ministry being turned into a prank house of horrors came to mind. That or perhaps a water park. She imagined walking to her office and slipping on a banana and hearing Oliver's laugh come from down the hallway. Then she thought about how he apologized. Was he turning over a new leaf?
The firewhiskey was making her rather hot, so she removed her sweater, revealing her old, oversized London tourist shirt that she usually slept in. Her mother always said she needed to dress better, but Robin didn't really care to.
"It's still a lovely story." Robin noted.

[[deleted user]]

Skye

"Oh, they've tried occasionally, but they don't really stay for long," Skye said quickly, thinking that she had to redeem herself in the relationship scene to Laurel. "They say I'm just not their type of girl, and the world keeps spinning." She listened eagerly to Laurel's statistics of matchmaking. Romance she liked. She just didn't have any of it. "Yes, they help a lot when I'm writing."

[DragonDreamer]

Laurel

"A writer! That's so fascinating! How long have you been writing?" She questioned, no intention of being overly eager. She simply was curious of how writers worked. Despite her inability to stay quiet, Laurel was not very good with the written word, though she enjoyed a good book just as much as the next person.

[[deleted user]]

"I've always wanted to write," said Skye, smiling a little for the first time since she arrived at the Cauldron, now that she was talking about something she understood and liked. "Lately it has been difficult to get characters right, but other than that I wouldn't say it was half bad. I send it to my Aunt Elorie and my mother, and my mother always talks about the good parts and my aunt only says critical things so I get a pretty good picture of my writing I'd say."

[DragonDreamer]

"And you work in improper use of magic, though? Not really seeing the connection, or do you write part time then?" Laurel inquired, wondering why Skye didn't simply become a writer if she wanted to so badly. Laurel was happy to talk about the subject, finally finding something that Skye didn't seem so shy about. "I'd love to read some of your works if you don't mind showing me, though I doubt my criticism would be very helpful. I like reading, but I don't think I could be considered to read in depth very well. At least, that's what all my English teachers would tell me." She shrugged.

[[deleted user]]

"Just part time," said Skye mournfully, dropping her head. "It doesn't pay enough and my parents are all for the whole living independently thing so I can't just move back in or something... that would be mortifying." She took a swig of her drink, mentally regulating how much she was drinking. Skye had only been overly intoxicated (she hadn't been full out sloshed) once, and it wasn't an experience she wanted to repeat. She bit her bottom lip. She had only shown two people her writing, and they were relatives. "Um, sure. If you want to. They are mostly... Muggle stories."

[DragonDreamer]

((how has she only shown one person if she has shown it to her mother and her aunt?))
Laurel nodded, imagining moving back in with her parents. It wasn't a horrible idea. She dearly loved the couple and they were lovely, kind people. Still, they probably wouldn't appreciate her schedule and they did enjoy their privacy.
"Well I may be a pureblood, but I am rather fascinated with muggle culture. I'm a muggle liaison, so I get to speak with some occasionally, which is rather nice actually. I've read some muggle stories before. Their simplicity can be a bit confusing at times, but can be very well written I think."

[[deleted user]]

((Sorry! My brain is ravaged.))

"I write some magical ones," Skye hurried on to say. "Mostly about wizards and witches with... unnatural powers. I mean, I know that wizards and witches can have more power than others or things like that, but I wanted them to have stranger and odder powers, which I think is intere-" Skye stopped midword when she realized that she was prattling on and making little to no sense.

[DragonDreamer]

Laurel listened intently, wondering why Skye had stopped speaking. "Yes?" She urged her to continue. "What kind of powers? What makes them so odd?" She inquired. She liked it when people showed some passion. It was much more exciting than the usual, hum-drum tone of everyday work. Wasn't that the point of gatherings like these? To get to know your colleagues and form stronger relationships so that a sense of community could develop in the work place and bring everyone together in such sad times.

[[deleted user]]

Skye, encouraged by Laurel's wish to hear more, went on, despite the feelings raging through her system. "Well, I had them have elemental magic. You know how there is magic that comes out of people when they are young, when they can't control it. I learned all I could about the theory of it, and modified it a little for the book so that the characters could learn to... control their emotional magic." She bit her bottom lip, unsure of how Laurel would react.

"Not much," said Elizabeth, a little wistfully, for she did like a good adventure. "I'm not a reporter, so I'm not licensed to go in places where my nose doesn't belong. As much as I love my column and, from the letters I get, the fans who like it it is rather tedious. Gets boring some days." She shrugged. "Not much has been going on in the Ministry lately. I didn't see the need." She cracked a smile. "If I'd known you missed the company of an old woman I would've come."

[[deleted user]]

"Your feelings would be correct," Elizabeth replied merrily, her eyes twinkling. She raised her eyebrows and had a mischievous smile. "I don't tease you? Well, come now, I must be doing a terrible job. I should be dropped off a cliff for shame."

[[deleted user]]

((LOL. Arrogant toerags and sarcastic wisenheimers are much funner.))

"Interestingly boring, my dear Colin," said Elizabeth. "I daresay that is the first time someone has ever given me a lecture... on teasing, of all things." She grinned playfully, even though she was entirely serious. The fun thing about being an old woman is that she could say just about anything she wanted because no one was going to smartmouth an old woman - or throw a punch.

[[deleted user]]

((Sorry, I meant to say funnier. How did that joke start, may I ask?))

Elizabeth was silent, sipping her drink, not quite sure what to say or if she should say anything at all. She looked at her watch. Her lunch hour was over - not that it mattered. She wasn't a reporter, so her schedule was more relaxed.

((And have you checked Cat's Place?))

[[deleted user]]

"You too, Colin," Elizabeth called after him, a moment too late, having been lost in her own thoughts. She sipped her drink and then, seeing as nothing really of interest was going on, tossed a coin to Hannah and left. Maybe she could do some shopping or other such nonsense.

-Exit Elizabeth to Streets-

[Aiyana, A PotterWhoLockian]

((Tom is not there anymore... It's Hannah, correct?))

[[deleted user]]

((Sorry, forgot.
And have you checked the adoption topic in Hogwarts?))

[Hina, Doors are for people with no imagination]

Litera wrote: "Navdeep

"Aww, that's what happens when you're cursed with the carrot-colour!" Navdeep chimed with a grin. She finished her Fire Whiskey and put down the glass. Nav smiled sheepishly. "Yes, it was ..."

Rhoda scrunched up her nose, peering down at her glass of firewhiskey. "I'm thinking about dying it auburn, or brown or something, but I'm absolutely rubbish with hair spells and I would rather not take a potion," she thought. "I'll probably get some muggle hair dye, I can do that." Rhoda laughed. "Ah yes, always fun though," she said with a grin.


Charles

Charles stood up from his seat at the bar, clutching his glass of firewhiskey in his hand before deciding to walk around the room. He owed it the Minister, well the ex-Minister. He nodded, and made polite conversation to a number of Ministry workers around the room, feeling slightly sick at the public talks on who would want to apply for the vacant role. How could they even think about something when the Minister of Magic's son had vanished?

[DragonDreamer]

βιβλιοφάγος (a.k.a. Cat) wrote: "Skye, encouraged by Laurel's wish to hear more, went on, despite the feelings raging through her system. "Well, I had them have elemental magic. You know how there is magic that comes out of people..."

Laurel nodded, taking another swig of her water. "Fascinating!" She paused. Skye looked nervous, biting her bottom lip. She wondered if she was making her uncomfortable for a moment.
"Are you usually this shy?" She questioned bluntly. Laurel was not one for subtlety.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Colin exit the pub and an older woman as well. How dreary it would be if the party ended before it even got exiting. Soon Charles, was making his way around to everyone and Laurel was sure to smile and wave to make it known that he was welcome to join them if he'd like. He always seemed to be off on his own.

[[deleted user]]

Skye felt exceedingly uncomfortable and then tried to unpinch her features, the result that she looked a little more calm. "I keep to myself, yes," Skye replied. She almost bit her lip again before reminding herself that it would only bring on more awkward questions. "Ah, how's your family these days?"

[DragonDreamer]

"I suppose some people are like that. Not a bad quality at all. Very unlike me though, I can never seem to stop talking. I've found it often can get on people's nerves." She shrugged, not in the least bit remorseful. "My family? Well, presently, my parents are in Hawaii. They wanted to learn the muggle activity of surfing. And get some brilliant tans I imagine. Other than them, though, I don't have a family. No siblings or aunts or uncles. And no family of my own obviously. I don't particularly want one just yet. I'm too young for all that business. And yourself? How is your family?"

[Hina, Doors are for people with no imagination]

((What's happening after Leaky Cauldron?))

[DragonDreamer]

((Nothing that I know of. People go home and go to bed, then wake up and go to work?))