For anyone who reads this: Please review, give me suggestions, give me criticism, give me praise. I'll take anything, even flames.
Colleen Miller set one last basket of rolls on the table and finally sat down. Her husband sent her wary looks across the table, and these did not go unnoticed by the stranger.
"So, John," Braxton began, "what is it that you do?"
"Oh, I work in Flourish and Blotts, in Diagon Alley. What is it that YOU do?" John shot back. He had a bad feeling about this stranger and was determined to be rude and make it clear that this "Alfred Braxton" was not to be welcomed back.
"I am a business man," Braxton said quietly. He knew that John Miller did not like him for whatever reason. But, Braxton thought, why not act cordial and polite, just to spite the poor bloke?
"What sort of business?"
"I haven't really decided," Braxton said with a sly smile, his eyes down on his plate, and his hand on his wine glass.
"So really, you're unemployed?" John sneered.
"It doesn't matter much, I have a large account at Gringotts," Braxton said with a smug smile. He took a sip of wine.
Colleen glared daggers at her husband. She didn't know what has gotten into him. Normally, he was kind, affable, and very mature. Now he was acting like a two year old that didn't get his way. She cleared her throat.
"So, how would anyone like dessert?" she asked very quickly and loudly.
"Mummy, you said that I wasn't allowed dessert 'cause I get too hyper," Rosie said, slightly bouncing in her seat.
"Yes, I know. I wasn't planning on giving you any," Colleen smirked. Rosie sat back with a pouty face and cross her arms. The men chuckled around the table.
Braxton rose from the table. "I'm sorry I will be missing out on a what I'm sure is a delicious dessert, but I must return home. It was nice meeting you John," he ended with a tip of his head in the direction of John Miller.
Colleen started to protest but her husband silenced her. "Goodbye," John said in a curt voice.
A black dog with a stick in its mouth trotted through the dark woods' undergrowth. Every so often, stars would shine through the leaves. When this would happen, the dog would stop and look up at them. It seemed as if the dog was stargazing. The dog walked with his nose to the ground, sniffing out a trail. Sometimes he would stop and look around as if he was deciding which way to take. After a good portion of an hour, the dog stopped at a creek. He dipped a paw in then recoiled quickly. The water was cold. The dog walked along the creek, growing slower with fatigue as the night progressed. There was no moon that night, making the sky very dark even though the stars could be seen twinkling in the distance.
Finally, the dog stopped at a small waterfall. It leapt through the waterfall and into a small cave behind it. It dropped the stick. The cave was damp and smelly, but it would do. The dog transformed into a human with ornate clothes, who waved picked up the stick and waved it a few times. The human's short blonde hair changed to matted, dark hair and his clothes to tattered prisoners robes. A small mattress and blanket appeared also. The human put the stick under the mattress and fell onto his bed, drawing his blanket over his head. He was asleep within minutes.
Soon after Braxton left, conversation at the Miller's table quickly turned to the conversation that witches and wizards had across the nation that night. "Have you heard about Sirius Black, John?" Remus asked.
"No," John replied.
"Rosie, bed, now," Colleen demanded. After a few protests, Rosie stomped to her room and was asleep in minutes. "He escaped. Sirius Black. He's gone."
"What?" John exclaimed. "Colleen, what are you saying?"
"She's right, John," Remus said. "He's gone and the Ministry thinks he's after Harry Potter."
"Oh Merlin," John gasped.
Alfred Braxton ran across the village square and stopped in front of a blue building. He was panting. A ways away, he heard a large "POP" and cursed himself. "Why didn't I just Apparate?" he berated himself.
"Mister?" a young voice said.
"What? What in Merlin-" Braxton roared, only to stop from continuing when he saw a small familiar face peeking out from the Blue Cauldron. "Oh, Rosie, hi ya…"
"Mr. Braxton?" she said, her eyes welling up. "Why did you yell?"
"No, no reason, I'm just a bit on edge, that's all, come dear, don't cry," Braxton attempted to soothe.
There was some clanking inside the diner, and soon Janie appeared at the door, tugging the sobbing girl inside. "Rosie!" she scolded. "Don't cry!"
Braxton wriggled in the building. He cleared his throat. Rosie cried harder. Janie tried in vain to make her stop. He cleared his throat again, this time louder.
"Do you want me to take you back to your mummy? Is that is?" Janie tried.
"Noooooo! I" – sob –" just want" – sob – "my" – hiccup –" blankey!" Rosie cried.
Braxton did a little awkward shuffle in the background, clearly uncomfortable. After a few more minutes, Janie grunted frustratedly and grabbed the sobbing child's hand. She swung the door open and pulled Rosie behind her calling out "Aunt Colleen! AUNT COLLEEN!"
Braxton sat down awkwardly in one of the booths. A few minutes later, Janie returned looking rather frazzled.
"Sorry about that," she said, a smile worming its way onto her face. "My little cousin can get a little emotional."
"Wait- Rosie's your cousin?"
"Why?" Janie asked. "Do you know her? 'Cause if you do, I am terribly sorry. She is a right pain, that one."
"I think she is adorable," Braxton stated.
"Oh," Janie said, faltering a bit, "well, let's get down the business then." Braxton nodded, studying the face of Janie.
"Well, I should probably explain more of my idea," Janie said. "I want to open up a restaurant in Diagon Alley, or really anywhere, you know, as long as wizards can get to it. It will be painted red on the outside with a gold door. And a big sign will read "Firebolt Bistro" on the front and –"
Braxton interrupted her. "Why 'Firebolt'?" he asked. "It sounds more like a broom than a bistro."
"Mr. Braxton, sir, where have you been? It's only the newest broom on the market! It's the fastest broom ever made! All of England and Ireland has them!" Janie exclaimed.
"The whole countries? Or the teams?" Braxton asked, clearly confused.
"The Quidditch teams! The broom is way too expensive for the every with and wizard in the country to own one!"Janie laughed.
Braxton put his head into hands.
"Well, I've actually got a space picked out in Diagon Alley, we could go see it, how about it?" Janie asked excitedly.
"I'll have to visit Gringotts first," Braxton mumbled.
Braxton pointed his wand subtly at the goblin. "Imperio," he whispered. The golbin immediatly left and motioned for Braxton to follow him. As they rode the cart to the very pitts of Gringotts, Braxton got increasingly nervous. There came a roaring waterfull ahead. "Wh-what is that?" he asked.
"Theives Downfall, it erases all charms and enchantments," the goblin stated. Braxton's eyes went wide.