Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognize as belonging to someone else. Cadance is mine. Cati and Drew belong to Lady Potter. Her story doesn't have them as the same ages that I do, but they're still the same characters. Pretty much everyone else belongs to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Please please please review!
Six months passed quickly, and before they knew it, Cadance and Cati were back in the Auroring Department working full-time. They quit their job at Kala's, but were there every weekend. Cati continued to date Matt. As Kala predicted, they were fairly bored. They rarely were called out of the office, and often had to sift through mindless paperwork.
Drew, who was a few years older and a rank above them, often stopped by the girls' adjoining cubicles in the Ministry's Auroring Department. On one such occasion in late May, Drew joined Cadance and Cati in Cadance's cubicle. All three Aurors had their feet up on Cadance's desk and were enjoying a peaceful morning while eating ice cream. Everyone loves ice cream.
"So why are we eating ice cream again?" asked Drew.
"Well, I suppose we're eating it to illustrate to the readers the kind of laid-back job being an Auror has become," said Cati.
"What?" asked Drew.
"I said we're eating it because it's hot in here," said Cati.
"Ah," said Drew, with his mouth full of ice cream.
"So what do you guys want to do?" asked Cati. "Crossword puzzle?"
"Nah, Cadance gets violent when the answer she comes up with has the right number of letters but isn't the right answer," said Drew. "Office bowling?"
"No, Cati and I got yelled at for that yesterday. Apparently Bob Reynolds thinks that using all the rubber bands in the supply room to make a rubber band bowling ball is not good use of Auror resources. He made us take it apart," answered Cadance.
"What did you do with it?" asked Drew. Cati lifted her foot and brought it sharply down on the desk. Cadance's bottom drawer popped open. It was overflowing with rubber bands.
"Nice," said Drew.
"Nuperson! Dumbledore!" barked a voice from around the corner.
Cadance and Cati jumped up and saluted as a gruff-looking man turned the corner. "Yes sir, Major Beckham, sir!" said Cati.
"Stop it, Nuperson!" snapped Beckham.
"Which one?" asked Drew.
"Don't you have paperwork due by 3?" asked Beckham. Drew sighed and stood up. He waved to Cadance and Cati before stalking off.
"Put your arms down, you two. What have I told you about mocking authority?" asked Beckham.
They obeyed and he continued. "I have an assignment for you," he said.
"A mission?" asked Cati with interest.
"Hardly," said Beckham. "An escort assignment."
"A what?" asked Cadance. "For who?"
"An escort assignment," answered Beckham. "For Headmaster Dumbledore."
"We're escorting my uncle?" asked Cadance. "Honestly, Major, if anyone tries anything silly, I think it's more like that he'll end up protecting us."
"You're not escorting him, Dumbledore; you're escorting someone to him," said Beckham. "Headmaster Dumbledore requested you two specifically."
"Why do they need and escort?" asked Cati.
"And who is it?" added Cadance.
"Oh, that's a better question!" exclaimed Cati. "Answer that one first."
"It's all in the folder," said Beckham, handing them a file. "You're to meet him in the Leaky Cauldron at 3 o'clock. Better get a move on it." He turned and walked out.
Cadance and Cati exchanged a look, and then huddled closer to open the folder. "Are you kidding me?" asked Cati, looking at Cadance. "Why would he need an escort?"
At a quarter to 3 o'clock, Cadance and Cati had seated themselves at the bar in the Leaky Cauldron and were talking to Tom, the bartender. "Can I interest you ladies in a drink?" he asked.
"Can't, Tom, we're on official business," answered Cati.
"Something important?" asked Tom pleasantly.
"Hardly," mumbled Cadance. She looked to the door as it opened and a man in a turban entered. "Wow, Cati, there he is." She slid off the stool.
"Later, Tom," said Cati, sliding off as well.
"Professor Quirrell!" called Cadance loudly. The man nearly jumped out of his turban.
He sighed with relief as he saw who was approaching him. "Why Miss D-D-Dumbledore. M-M-Miss Nuperson. You g-g-gave me quite a f-fright."
"We're here to escort you to Hogwarts," said Cadance. "Would you like some help with your bag?"
"N-N-No!" he exclaimed, clutching it tighter.
"What's with the turban?" asked Cati.
"Nothing," said Quirrell, touching it.
Cadance and Cati exchanged a glance, then Cadance said, "Well, shall we be off?"
"Y-y-yes," answered Quirrell.
"We're going to use Floo Powder to go to the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade then walk to Hogwarts," said Cati.
"Madame Rosmerta knows we're coming and opened the grate," added Cadance.
"Why doesn't Cadance go first and then you, Professor Quirrell, and then I'll follow?" asked Cati. "That way, in case—for whatever reason—someone decides to attack, someone's got you covered from the front and the back."
"Oh, sure, sacrifice me," said Cadance jokingly before taking some Floo Powder from Tom and tossing it into the Flames. "Three Broomsticks!" she called and stepped in.
When she rolled out of the fireplace in the Three Broomsticks, Madame Rosmerta was waiting. She helped her to her feet. Cadance brushed the soot off of herself.
"When are you going to learn to travel using Floo Powder more gracefully?" asked Rosmerta.
"I hate Floo Powder," said Cadance. "Why bother getting your Apparation license at all if the Ministry isn't going to let you escort people using it."
Professor Quirrell stepped through the grate and moved to the side with Cadance and Rosmerta to make room for Cati. "Okay, let's go," said Cati, dusting herself off.
They walked up to the castle in complete silence. Professor McGonagall was awaiting their arrival at the front doors. She smiled at Quirrell and shook his hand. "Professor Quirrell, welcome back," she said. "I'm going to escort you up to Professor Dumbledore's office."
"Well, if you don't need us, we'll just go peak around a little," said Cati as she and Cadance tried to walk around her and into the castle.
"Not so fast," said McGonagall, sidestepping them. "Classes are in session. The students are preparing for finals next week. I will not have you wandering aimlessly around the halls. Go to my office and wait for me there."
She sent them off towards her office before taking Quirrell down another hallway to Dumbledore's office. "Well, this is boring," said Cadance.
"This is weird," said Cati. "Quirrell got strange. He wasn't nearly so strange for those two years we had him."
"Do you think he was really in Albania?" asked Cadance.
"Definitely not," said Cati.
"Rehab?" asked Cadance.
"Yeah, I'd say so," said Cati.
They reached McGonagall's office and entered. They sat down in front of her desk. Cati propped her feet up and got comfortable. "So what happened to the last Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" asked Cadance.
"I heard he and the Bloody Baron didn't get along and he left suddenly even though the term wasn't over because he was convinced the Baron put a hit out on him," said Cati.
"Where'd you hear that?" asked Cadance.
"From the ghost in the office supply room at work," said Cati.
"There's a ghost in the office supply room?" asked Cadance.
"Yeah, he comes and yells at you if he thinks you're taking too much at one time. Apparently the Ministry put him there because they had problems with people stealing office supplies. He's my friend!"
"Oh really?" asked Cadance.
"How else do you think I managed to get all those rubber bands for our rubber band ball?"
"Ah," said Cadance nodding her head.
Just then the door opened and McGonagall walked in. "Feet down, Catalin," she barked. Cati removed her feet from the desk.
"How ya doing, Minerva?" asked Cati pleasantly.
"I'll be better once this school year is over," said McGonagall heavily. "I've had enough shenanigans to last a lifetime."
"What kinds of shenanigans?" asked Cadance.
"Well, first the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Starkham, seems to be under the impression that the Bloody Baron hates him. He quit and moved out leaving us high and dry a few days ago. All year the two of them caused problems. Now, Professor Quirrell agreed to return, but you probably noticed he's gone a little…"
"Crazy?" asked Cadance and Cati at the same time.
"Well… yes," conceded McGonagall.
"Why did he need escorts?" asked Cadance.
"Beats me," said McGonagall. "He insisted."
"Very strange," said Cati. "We think he got involved in drugs."
"He's gotten involved with something," said McGonagall. Before the conversation could continue, however, Filch burst in, huffing and puffing.
"The Weasley Twins have set off dung bombs in the hallways again," he said panting.
"Blast," she muttered under her breath. "Alright, I'm on my way, Argus." He nodded and then ran off. "Both of your uncles want to see her," she added to Cadance and Cati. "I've got to deal with Weasley Twins' mess. You did train them well."
"Nuh uh!" exclaimed Cati. "We never got caught!"
Five minutes later, after agreeing to meet up before leaving, Cadance made her way to Dumbledore's office as Cati headed to Snape's. At the stone gargoyle, Cadance said the password and it sprang aside. She went up the spiral staircase and knocked on the door. "Come in!" called Dumbledore's voice pleasantly.
Cadance opened the door and entered. Dumbledore was not alone in the room. There was another man there as well. He looked much older than Dumbledore, but liked Dumbledore he retained a certain youthful air about him. Both men stood as Cadance entered. "Ah, Cadance," said Dumbledore, smiling at her.
"Hello, Uncle Albus," responded Cadance walking over to him and giving him a quick peck on the cheek.
"You, my dear, have gotten even lovelier since becoming an Auror," he said as he clasped her hand warmly.
"Must be all the time spent under the fluorescent lighting in the Auroring Department," said Cadance.
"You remember my friend, Nicholas Flamel, of course," said Dumbledore as he indicated to the other person.
"Of course," said Cadance, turning to Flamel. "How are you?"
"Wonderful, my dear," said Nicholas. "And you have certainly grown into a beautiful young woman." He kissed her hand.
"Thank you," said Cadance, trying not to giggle at his old-fashioned courtesy. "I can wait outside until you two are…"
"That's not necessary," said Flamel. "I'm on my way out. You'll contact me, Albus, when you've worked out the details?"
"Of course, of course" said Dumbledore. "Come on, Nicholas, I'll walk you to the gate."
"And leave your niece waiting alone? No, no, I can find my way out," said Dumbledore. "And, Albus, some friendly advice: don't let your new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor too close to Professor Snape. Professor Quirrell nearly fainted from fright when he shook my hand. Imagine if he meets Severus." And with that, Nicholas Flamel bowed out.
"What in the name of Merlin is wrong with Professor Quirrell?" asked Cadance as soon as Flamel had left.
"I admit, he is a little skitterish," said Dumbledore. "In fact he seemed right eager to leave the room the minute he got here. I can't imagine why. Nicholas hardly has the look of a maniac."
"Why didn't you just hire someone else? Isn't it a little strange to have a Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor who is afraid of his own shadow?" asked Cadance.
"He was the only one to apply," said Dumbledore. "It's getting harder and harder to hold a Professor in that position. People are beginning to say it's cursed. But Quirrell held the position before, so I thought he'd be a good choice anyway."
"Strange," said Cadance, shaking her head. She paused to look out the window. Then, suddenly a thought occurred to her. "What was Nicholas doing here?" she asked, turning back to look at him.
"He just came for a visit," answered Dumbledore.
"From what I know of him, he's not the kind to just drop by unannounced in the middle of the school day. And you're not the kind to schedule a visit with someone when you're waiting to welcome your new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor," said Cadance. "You don't mix business and pleasure. No, this was business and business."
"I'd better write to your superiors immediately and tell them to give you more to do. You're getting so bored in the office that you're looking for something in places where there is nothing," said Dumbledore.
"Nicholas asked you to contact him when you 'worked out the details'. What details?" asked Cadance.
"Cadance," said her uncle in a threatening tone. Cadance sighed. Dumbledore decided to change the subject. "What is new with you, dear?" he asked.
"Hardly anything," answered Cadance. "Cati and I made a rather large rubber band ball the other day at work, but Bob Reynolds made us take it apart. That's about it through."
"Oh really?" asked Dumbledore. "Then what is this I hear about a young gentleman escorting you around as of late?"
Cadance sighed. "Who told you?" she asked.
"Oh, I have my sources," said Dumbledore with a chuckle.
"I wasn't trying to hide it from you or anything," said Cadance, feeling as though she had better explain. "I just wasn't sure if it was worth mentioning yet. We've only been seeing each other for about three months, and it's really casual."
"Are you happy?" asked Dumbledore.
Cadance was taken aback; that wasn't what she had been expecting. "In general I am, yes," she answered. She paused and he looked her in the eyes for a second. "Oh, you mean with him? I'm not sure yet."
"Tell me about this young man," said Dumbledore.
"His name is Owen Barre," answered Cadance. "He didn't go to Hogwarts; he went to a private school in London. He works for the Daily Prophet. He's not a journalist; he works with business aspects."
"And what does Cati think of Owen?" asked Dumbledore.
Cadance paused again. "You know what Cati thinks of him," she answered coyly. "She was the one who told you about him."
Dumbledore chuckled. "Actually, I heard from Professor McGonagall who heard from Professor Snape who heard from Cati. She mentioned it in her last letter. See, you shouldn't jump to conclusions."
"Oh," said Cadance. "To be honest, Cati hasn't really spent much time with him. It's not as though I'm bringing her on dates with me. And besides, she's been a bit busy herself. You can tell Professor McGonagall to tell Professor Snape that things are getting pretty serious between Cati and Matt the Bartender."
"I'll make sure it gets back to him," responded Dumbledore. "So how did you meet this Owen?"
"Oh, he came into the bar about three months ago," answered Cadance. "Cati and I were breaking up a bar fight and he stepped in to help out. He started coming in regularly so we saw him a lot even after we quit our jobs at Tipsy's because we started at the Auroring Department."
"What does Charlie think of him?" asked Dumbledore.
"Oh he…" began Cadance. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"You two have always been close," responded Dumbledore. "I was just curious as to what his reaction was. He is rather protective of you; maybe more so than Cati."
"Charlie doesn't like him much," said Cadance. "I don't really know why. We haven't really talked about it, but he and Bill tend to make fun of Owen a lot behind his back; more so than they do with Matt. I think that means they like him less."
Suddenly there came a knock at the door. "That will be Cati," said Dumbledore, gesturing for Cadance to open it. Sure enough, Cati came bounding in.
"Hello, Professor Dumbledore," she said brightly.
"Hello, Catalin," said Dumbledore.
Cati sat down in one of the seats in front of the desk. Cadance sat back down as well. "I thought we were going to meet back up later," said Cadance.
"Oh, we were," said Cati. "However, I tried my uncle's patience, and I thought it would be a good idea to leave."
"Did you blow something up?" asked Cadance.
"Mmmmm hmmm," answered Cati. "And accidentally set fire to the desk."
"So what are you two going to do after this?" asked Dumbledore.
"We have ot file a report at the Ministry, then we'll probably just go home," said Cati.
"Actually, we should get going," said Cadance. "I can hear Bob Reynolds's rebukes now. How long does it take to escort one person to Hogwarts!"
"That was an awful Bob Reynolds impression," said Cati as she got to her feet. Dumbledore and Cadance stood as well. "For one, Bob Reynolds doesn't sound like a squeaky girl. Goodbye, Professor Dumbledore!"
"Goodbye, Catalin," said Dumbledore. He turned to say goodbye to his niece. She pecked him on the cheek.
"I'll see you as soon as the term lets out, Uncle Albus," she said.
"Goodbye, dear," he said before Cadance and Cati left with a wave. They discussed what sorts of random things they could add to their report to annoy Bob Reynolds as they walked down the spiral staircase and down the hallway.
"And how about if we said that a drunk man in the Three Broomsticks nearly spilled his beer on Professor Quirrell but we jumped in front of him?" asked Cati as they were passing the library.
"We better make sure we add that we'll be billing the Department for the cleaning bill," answered Cadance. Suddenly they heard a series of bumps and clangs and then mischievous cackling from somewhere in one of the corridors in the direction they were heading. They both stopped and looked at each other.
"That'll be Peeves," said Cati.
"C'mon," said Cadance, starting off down another corridor. "We'll go the back way." They began walking down a deserted hallway full of little-used classrooms. They were just walking past a suit of armor when Cadance stopped. Cati turned back to her and said, "What?"
Cadance pointed at a door across from it. "That door isn't closed," she said. Cati looked at it. It was barely ajar.
Cati looked at Cadance and then back to the door. She walked up to it and closed it. "Better?" she asked.
"Every other door in this hallway is closed and locked," said Cadance, as she opened the door and went in without hesitation. Cati followed her. The room was a little dark.
"What's that?" asked Cati, pointing at the wall. There was something just in front of it, covered by a tarp. They both walked up to it and gave it a tug. They let the tarp fall to the ground as the looked at what was behind it. They found themselves looking in a mirror. It was nearly as high of the ceiling and was in a gold frame. Along the top, there was an inscription that read: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.
"Cati," breathed Cadance. "Do you know what this is?"
"Yeah," said Cati. "What do you see?"
"I see me and you and Bill and Charlie and Drew and Kala and we're all playing mini-golf," said Cadance.
"Really?" asked Cati. "I see French Fries."
"Well, we did skip lunch," said Cadance.
"I thought you girls were going back to the Ministry to file a report," said a voice from the doorway. They turned and saw Dumbledore and McGonagall standing there.
"Peeves," said Cati by way of explanation and pointing in the direction from which they had heard him.
"What is this doing here?" asked Cadance, pointing at the mirror.
"Come on," said Dumbledore, stepping aside and gesturing to Cadance and Cati to leave the room. They did. Dumbledore and McGonagall stepped out behind them, and then Dumbledore took out his wand and locked the door.
"Well?" asked Cadance, staring expectantly at her uncle.
"Well what?" asked Dumbledore, as he began walking down the hallway, with McGonagall, Cadance, and Cati at his heels.
"What is the Mirror of Erised doing in Hogwarts?" asked Cadance. "Where did you get it? How did you get it?"
"Minerva, we had better walk Cadance and Catalin to the Entrance Hall," said Dumbledore. "We wouldn't want them making any more detours on the way out." He glanced back at them with a smile playing across his face.
Cadance narrowed her eyes, apparently not finding anything as amusing as he apparently did. "This has something do with why Nicholas Flamel was here!" she exclaimed. "Is the Mirror involved in the 'details' Flamel mentioned?"
"Did it ever occur to you that being overly inquisitive and nosy isn't very becoming?" asked Dumbledore.
"Did it ever occur to you that I wouldn't have to be overly inquisitive or nosy if you would just tell me whatever it is that you're hiding from me?" countered Cadance.
"Did it ever occur to you that maybe it's not your business?"
"Did it ever occur to you that I don't care?"
"Did it ever occur to you that one shouldn't argue with her uncle, especially when said uncle was kind enough to request her for a mission which got her out of the office for a while," said Dumbledore pointedly.
"Did it ever occur to you that I could play this game all day?" said Cadance matter-of-factly.
"That had occurred to me," said Dumbledore. They had reached the Entrance Hall. Dumbledore nodded at the doors. "Give my best to Rosmerta."
Cadance and Cati tried to stare them down for a second, but failed miserably. They opened the doors and started walking down to Hogsmeade.
Dumbledore and McGonagall watched them walk until they reached the front gate and they could no longer see them anymore. "What are we going to do about this?" asked McGonagall after another moment or two of silence.
"Nothing," answered Dumbledore.
"They're going to pry," said McGonagall.
"I wouldn't expect anything less of them," said Dumbledore. "It'll give them something to do for the summer at least."
"And when summer ends?" asked McGonagall. "They'll keep coming around. Harry Potter starts at Hogwarts come fall. Cadance will want to see him."
"I know," answered Dumbledore. He was still staring out the door after Cadance and Cati. He appeared to be pondering something.
"We can't let her, Albus," said McGonagall. "All the same reasons you tried to keep her from him before now still apply. She'll tell him things; things he's not ready to hear. He's 11-years-old. She'll tell him about Sirius Black. She'll tell him about You-Know-Who and how he is the heir of Godric Gryffindor."
"I know, Minerva," said Dumbledore, finally turning away from Hogsmeade. They stepped back inside and closed the doors behind them. "We'll have to keep her from here."
"How?" asked McGonagall.
"If I ask her, she'll listen," said Dumbledore. "Or at the very least, she'll sneak in and not let Harry see her, which I suppose is better than nothing." He paused and there was a few more seconds of silence. "Mini-golf and French Fries."
"What?" asked McGonagall.
"Mini-golf and French Fries," repeated Dumbledore. "That's what they saw. They have lost nearly everything to Voldemort. They have been pursued by demons for most of their lives. They looked into the Mirror of Erised and saw mini-golf and French Fries. They could have seen anything. They could have seen Death Eaters being tortured; punished for their crimes. They could have seen their families. Cadance could have seen Jennifer. But they didn't. They have truly accepted their lot in life and are perfectly happy with what they have."
"Except Cadance wishes they could play more mini-golf and Cati is a bit hungry," said McGonagall.
"They truly are exceptional girls," said Dumbledore slightly incredulously.
"I know," said McGonagall flatly. "That's why I worry."
"So what do you doing tonight?" asked Cati as she and Cadance arrived back at their flat. They had hurried out of the Department after filing their report just in case Bob Reynolds decided to read it right away.
"I don't know," answered Cadance. "Owen is supposed to stop by when he gets off work. What are you doing?"
"Matt's working at Tipsy's tonight," said Cati. "I told him I would stop by."
"I'm going to go change out of my Auroring uniform," said Cadance as she headed back to her room.
"Have at it," said Cati, plopping down on the couch and putting her feet up on the coffee table. She grabbed today's Daily Prophet and began to read. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "It's open!" called Cati.
The door opened, and a man with shaggy black hair walked in. He was tall with an athletic build. His eyes were dull grey. "Hello, Cati," he said. "Where's Cadance?"
Cati glanced up. "She's changing her clothes, Owen. Have a seat," she said. "So what are you guys going to do tonight?"
"Probably going to get some dinner somewhere," said Owen. "You?"
"I'm going to the bar," she answered. She looked at her watch. "Actually, I think I'm going to go now. Kala will be there." She got up and walked down the hallway. She pounded on Cadance door.
"What!" exclaimed Cadance's voice from her room.
"Hurry your ass up! Your boyfriend is here!" Cati responded. "I'm going to Tipsy's!"
"Now!"
"Yeah!" called Cati through the door. "I'll see you later tonight."
"Bye!"
Cati slapped the door twice before walking back into the living room. She said goodbye to Owen and then turned on the spot, Apparating out. About a minute later, Cadance came out of her room wearing regular robes, as opposed to her Auroring ones. Owen stood up to greet her.
"Hey, babe," he said stooping to give her a kiss. "What would you like to do tonight?"
"Oh, I don't care," answered Cadance airily. "Nothing too exciting, though, I don't think I could pack too much more excitement into one day." Her voice was full of sarcasm as she said the last part.
"Right, I'll cancel that base-jumping lesson then," said Owen, as they both sat down on the couch. Cadance threw her legs across his lap and laid her head on his shoulder.
"I should certainly think so!" said Cadance. "I don't need lessons!"
"So I take it you had a boring day at work?" he asked.
"Well, Cati and I got to escort the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor to Hogwarts," answered Cadance. "So at least I got out of the office for a while and Cati and I got to see our uncles."
"That's good," answered Owen.
"How was work for you?" asked Cadance.
"Oh, you know how it is down there in the business department," said Owen. "Things get difficult when you mix the desire to sell newspapers with journalistic integrity. Then, of course, you've got to figure in Rita Skeeter…"
"The vast unpredictability has got be simply maddening," said Cadance, shaking her head sadly.
"You can't even imagine," he said with a sigh. "So, really, what do you want to do tonight? Do you want to go to dinner and then come back here for a little desert?" He winked at her.
Cadance laughed. "Alright," she said.
"Hi!" exclaimed Cati as she skipped into the bar.
Kala was ducked down behind the bar, putting stuff away, with her back to Cati. She straightened up and turned around at the sound of Cati's voice. "Bit early for you to start drinking, isn't it?" she asked.
"Nothing to do in the flat," answered Cati. "Cadance is going out with Owen. Matt in yet?"
"He's not on for another half-hour," said Kala.
"Great," said Cati. She reached into the pocket of her Auror robes, which she was still wearing, and pulled out a deck of cards. "Five Card Draw?"
"You're on."
"What are you thinking about?" asked Owen, reaching across the table and grabbing Cadance's hand. She was staring out the window as they waited for their food to arrive.
Cadance looked back at him and smiled. "Nothing," she answered. That was a lie. She had been doing some thinking about Nicholas Flamel and the Mirror of Erised and the possible connection between them.
"Well, I've been thinking," said Owen.
"About what?" asked Cadance.
"We've been seeing each other for close to three months now," said Owen. "And we haven't really talked about where this is going."
"Where is it going?" asked Cadance.
"I'm not entirely sure," said Owen. "But I like it, wherever it is."
Cadance smiled. "Me too."
"Line 'em up, Kala!" exclaimed Charlie and he and Drew walked into Tipsy's Tavern at about 7:00 that evening. The bar had gotten more crowded, but Matt had arrived to tend to it.
"You heard them, Matt," said Kala, without taking her eyes off of her cards. She and Cati were still playing poker.
Charlie and Drew sat down at the bar next to Cati. "Did you come straight from work?" asked Drew, eyeing her Auror robes.
"Basically," answered Cati. "I stopped home for about five minutes. Where's Bill?"
"Working in the vaults all night," answered Charlie looking over Cati's shoulder at her cards. He pulled one out and placed it at a different spot in her hand and then tapped the card next to it. "Where's Cadance?"
"Out with Owen," answered Cati. She could feel Charlie stiffen beside her.
"You know," said Kala laying down her cards to reveal a full house. "If she keeps going out with Owen instead of coming here, I'm going to start thinking she likes him more."
"Oh, come off it," said Cati, smugly throwing down hers to reveal five aces. "It can't be that serious. She hasn't even introduced him to her uncle yet."
"You haven't introduced me to your uncle yet," pointed out Matt as he joined them and poured drinks for Charlie and Drew.
"Yes, but that's different," said Cati. "Cadance hasn't introduced Owen to her uncle because that's too permanent for her. I haven't introduced you to my uncle for your own protection."
"It's true, you know," chimed in Drew. "He's real nice to me and Cati but he's one scary son of a bitch to everyone else."
Kala looked down at Cati's five aces and then rolled her eyes towards the ceiling. "Cati, next time, think before you use the cards hidden up your sleeve," she said with a sigh.
"What?" asked Cati. She looked down too. "Damnit! Charlie distracted me!"
"I tried to point out that you had two of the same cards in your hands!" argued Charlie. Kala gathered the cards up and handed them to Cati, who pocketed them.
"So where were Cadance and Owen going?" asked Drew conversationally.
"I think dinner," said Cati. Charlie rolled his eyes.
"What was that?" asked Kala cocking an eyebrow at him.
"Nothing," said Charlie. Kala and Cati exchanged a look. "I just don't really like Owen."
"Well, why not?" asked Kala. "He's nice."
"He seems nice, but do we really know?" asked Charlie. "And besides he just gives off this… vibe. I don't know how to explain it."
"Oh, you mean the I've-got-hidden-intentions vibe?" asked Drew nodding his head. "I get that from him, too."
"Exactly!" exclaimed Charlie, pointing at Drew. "See!"
"You two are nuts," said Kala. "Are you getting this so-called vibe from him, Cati?"
"No," said Cati. "These two are just weird."
"No, we're men," said Drew. "Ask Matt."
Kala looked down to the other end of the bar to where Matt was serving two demons with their hoods up. Claw-like hands poked out from under long robes to grab their drinks. "Oi! Matt! Come down here a second!" she called.
"What's up?" he asked as he joined them.
"What do you think of Owen?" asked Kala.
"Cadance's Owen?" asked Matt. They all nodded. "He seems nice..."
"See," said Cati pointedly to Drew and Charlie.
"But," continued Matt. "There's just something that I can't put my finger on…"
"A vibe?" suggested Charlie.
"Yes! That's it!" exclaimed Matt. Cati and Kala heaved a sigh.
Arabella Figg laid in a bed in St. Mungo's Hospital looking at the ceiling and wondering why bad things happened to good people when suddenly the door opened and Minerva McGonagall walked in.
"Arabella, what in heaven's name…" began McGonagall, before Arabella cut her off.
"Listen, Minerva, I was supposed to take the boy today," said Arabella hurriedly.
"Harry?" asked McGonagall.
"Yes," answered Arabella. "It's that piggish brat's birthday. That's why I tripped. I transfigured the throw pillows from the couch into cats just like I do every year and this year one of the cats got underfoot. I need you to call those blasted muggles and tell them that I can't take Harry today."
McGonagall sighed. "Alright," she said. "What should I say?"
"Just pretend to be from a muggle hospital and tell them I asked you to call and let them know that I was in the hospital with a broken foot and I won't be able to babysit today," answered Arabella. "I suppose they'll take Harry with them. I think they mentioned that they were going to the zoo this year."
"Well, it's not as if anything can happen, right?"
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