Hi everyone!
Before I start my next chapter, I have to get a few things clear.
1) I do not do erotica or pedophilia.
Therefore, Calypso is NOT, I repeat, NOT going to hook up with Sirius.
Please, he is like, thirty-something, and she's 19!!!!!!! Anyone else see anything wrong with that? (Sorry!!!! to any people I disappoint here, or inadvertently insult) Oh, and the same goes for a Remus/Calypso situation. If, in the future, I feel Sirius needs a 'significant other' I'll create someone who is about thirty-something.
But as he is a wanted criminal, I don't reckon that will happen till his name is cleared. Or maybe not…plotline possibilities here…
2) Many people have commented that Calypso is getting to be a bit of a Mary-Sue – you know, an Animagus and a wolf. Cliche cliché cliché.
Well, yes, I knew when I wrote it people would get that impression, but her being a wolf-person is essential in the plot. If you are confused, don't worry, so am I.
No, but really, it's necessary for the storyline – which actually exists now! Dear Lord it has happened!
But thank you for the constructive criticism!
Started school last Tuesday. I'm a big, bad seventh former this year! Yeeha! So there might be a bit of a delay before the next installment comes out – or maybe not, depending on how things go.
Once again, thanks to my splendiferous beta-reader, Allylupin! Words fail to describe...
And once again, all JK Rowling's stuff belongs solely to her. Please don't sue me – I have no money anyway.
Without further ado, heregoes.
Calypso sprawled back on the couch and took a good look at the Lounge in Remus' house. It was the only room in the house she had never been into, for a variety or subtle reasons that she never had really thought about until now.
It was probably because she had been forbidden to enter it when she had first arrived, and that her subconscious mind had labeled the door at the end of the hallway 'taboo'. Also because the kitchen was nice enough she had never felt compelled to find another room to mope around in.
Such a pity, she though, to have only discovered this place now.
Where there weren't windows, there were bookshelves or paintings. There was not a patch of bare wall in the whole room. And best of all, in the middle of the Lounge was a coffee table and three large, squishy orange and purple sofas, which Calypso was contentedly draped across, enjoying the picturesque views out of the ranch sliders.
She broke her gaze from the scenery and looked down at the list in her hand.
THINGS I MUST DO TODAY, it read.
#1 – talk to Buzz.
Calypso rearranged herself more comfortably and closed her eyes.
Gudday buzz. I want to have a few words to you.
Really? the buzz sounded irritable.
Yes, really. I'll put this bluntly, because I really don't feel like spending any more time than I possible have to talking to you, so I'll make myself very clear.
Recently, my life has gone from queer to absolutely impossibly barmy.
Every time I have a little conversation to you, I end up feeling very ripped off, and more confused than when I began. Not this time, honey. I want some answers, and you are going to give them to me. She demanded.
Oh really. I've got news for you. We both know who's in charge here – me. And since I don't feel like answering any questions, you can go jump. The buzz was not in a good mood, and Calypso thought what she was going to say next would not improve the buzz's disposition.
Well, love, if you don't, I'm going down to the village and I'll find a young priest, an old priest, some incense, a pile of candles and a set of bells. Calypso thought smugly.
You wouldn't! The buzz hissed
Just try me, Calypso thought evilly. I'd just love to get an exorcism and be rid of you forever.
There was a long silence.
Shit. The Buzz said eventually. You got me there.
Calypso grinned broadly.
Right. The first thing I want to know, is your name.
Why? The buzz asked sullenly.
In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghos...
Alright! Fine! Just don't do that again!
I want to know your name, sweetie, because I feel really stupid calling you 'buzz' even when you don't buzz any more. Okay?
There was another pause.
Fine, the buzz sighed, but I warn you, this is not the way I would have wanted to do things.
You mean, you would rather be manipulating me, not the other way around? Calypso said slyly.
My name, the buzz said curtly, is Virginia.
Great. That's better than 'buzz'.
Virginia made a sulky grunt.
Right then Virginia, tell me a bit about yourself.
Why? It's of little consequence! She snapped.
Because if there is someone living in my head, I'd like to know a little bit about them. The bare bones will do.
There was silence.
I'll help you get started. Calypso said helpfully. You are English?
Yes. How did you know?
Your accent.
Oh.
Well, Virginia started reluctantly, you are right, I was English. But after I finished at Hogwarts I immigrated to America.
When was this?
I came over on a ship with some pilgrims in 1620, but I ditched them pretty fast. I hate religious nutters. I was actually wanting to find some Indian Shaman to study from, so I Apparated into Indian Territory, and ended up living with the tribe.
Which one?
It doesn't matter, Virginia replied tetchilly.
Anyway, it was a great life, all the Indians respected me, I got married, had kids, lived in paradise, etc etc. You get the hint?
Yeah, that's fine.
Question number two – why the hell are you in my head?
Virginia seemed to perk up a bit. Well, when I was with the Indians, I had lots of worrying dreams about the future. About now. I knew that I had to help, to share my knowledge, to help in the fight, but there was a slight problem. A problem of about 400 years, give or take a few.
Oh.
So I set myself up to get into your head. You see, I can direct you, and therefore fight Voldemort.
So what am I going to do?
For god's sakes! You are a seer, are you not?
Yes!
Then you know the consequences of knowing the future!
Yeah!
And therefore, you understand why I'm not telling you!
There was a long pause while Calypso thought this over.
I 'spose you're right. She said reluctantly.
Good, Virginia said smugly. Any more questions?
Yes.
Why me?
I can only reside in the minds of another Seer.
Okay then.
Why did you hibernate me for six months?
Because I know the future. If you had stayed in Australasia, certain things would have happened that would be...detrimental to our cause. The same if you were in England. So to save time and energy, I just made you sleep through it all.
And what about you possessing my body? Huh?
Don't worry about that, it was all for your own good, Virginia said dismissivly.
How the hell could being possessed be good for me? Calypso shot back furiously.
Have you ever wondered why your evil little friend Monahan hasn't found you yet?
Calypso didn't reply.
Because, darling, I have a slight grip on your mind all the time now. Tainted you thoughwaves, so to speak. So stop worrying over that little dementor-spawn, and get on with the job.
Which is?
God dammit! Virginia exploded. How much of an idiot are you? Here I am, saying my purpose here was to fight Voldemort, you have joined the Phoenixes as a Seer, and you are asking me what your job is!
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF…
Sorry! Sorry!
Just try and be nice and patient, okay?
Another question – I've been having a repetitive dream lately, and I'm buggered if I know what it means.
Ah ha. The one on horseback?
Yeah, that one!
Have you noticed anything funny about that dream?
Kind of. I know I'm dreaming.
And you can control what you do in that dream.
I'm confused.
Yes, with an intellect as tiny as yours, I'd expect you to be.
Haha.
Calypso, try and do things different to obtain a different ending to that dream.
That is no help whatever.
It's all I can do. You know the rules of Divination. Any further questions?
Yeah. I am living with a werewolf and a convicted mass murderer on the run. Why?
Because they are very valuable allies. Trust them. Anything else?
Calypso thought hard.
Nope. But don't plan any extended holidays, I'll probably want to talk to you again soon.
Thank you for your gracious co-operation, she added sarcastically.
Virginia disappeared from her mind with a very rude remark.
Calypso opened her eyes and stretched, yawning.
A rather profitable conversation, she thought.
She gazed around the room and looked longingly at the numerous spell books stacked on the bookshelves, gold titles on the spines glittering seductively.
She was sitting in the middle of a room filled with spellbooks, more than she ever had dared to imagine at her disposal, and what was she going to do?
#2 – talk to Rorrim.
Calypso wiggled her bum muscles to try and stop them from going to sleep.
She had entered her room, apologized to Rorrim for being rude before, and had asked very simply who owned the house.
That was over half an hour ago, and those were the last words she had said.
Calypso was a blonde herself, but she thought to herself that Rorrim was the epiphany of blondes in the blonde jokes. She took a deep breath and cup into Rorrim's gossiping.
"Hey, I'd love to stay and talk some more, but I have to go and make tea, and do some crystal-gazing and jump off a bridge, okay? Awfully sorry, but you know…"
"Oh, that's fine! It was wonderful talking to you, though. Come back soon!" Rorrim said cheerfully.
"I will!" Calypso called as she walked out of the room. "As soon as hell freezes over!"
"Great!" Called Rorrim happily.
Idiot, Calypso thought. Still, Rorrim had provided her with some good information between all the pithy gossip.
The house had belonged to Remus' parents, Graham and Cassie Lupin. They had three children – the oldest, a boy called Cain, then a gap of about five years till Remus, and a year later, a girl, Epsilon, nicknamed Epsilony.
Cain had been an intelligent, charming boy, a top wizard, but had tragically disappeared under suspicious circumstances when he was about twenty, never to be heard from again.
Epsilon was also a brilliant student, and with a sweet personality had many friends. A top Auror, she had married a workmate, Anthony Bones, and had one child, a girl, before both she and her partner were murdered by Lord Voldemort.
Shortly after, Graham and Cassie were also killed by the same man.
In all, Calypso thought, it was a tragic tale.
At exactly the same time Calypso was making discreet inquiries into Remus' life, he was doing the same into hers.
The Ministry of Magic is made up of many different offices, and Remus was sitting in an uncomfortable chair in the Department for International Inquiries, situated on the eighth floor of the Ministry building in Diagon Alley.
Like most offices, they were practical, not stylish, and the drab walls were decorated by whoever occupied the office.
Remus had nothing interesting to look at apart from a Gilderoy Lockhart Special Edition Calendar and Gilderoy Lockhart Colour Posters – all autographed. The sight of Gilderoy Lockhart's award-winning smile and perfectly manicured hair sickened Remus, so instead he investigated, with his wand, the bubblegum stuck to the bottom of the desk until the secretary came back.
Remus looked up expectantly as Loretta Lukkasen strode back into the office, heels clicking, arms filled with sheets of parchment, brown hair frizzy and her eyes puzzled behind her chunky, horn-rimmed black glasses.
"Lupin, who the hell are you investigating?" she asked immediately.
Remus blinked.
"A…a prospective workmate" he said, suspiciously.
Loretta sat down at her swivel chair and started shuffling through the sheets of parchment littering the desktop.
"Well, I'd say don't hire her." She said abruptly. "I couldn't even find out what her age is - everything is surrounded in red tape."
"Really?" Remus murmured, thinking hard.
"And not just any red tape, either," Loretta continued. "Level Alpha authorization is required to get into the files I needed. The only people who have Level Alpha authorization are the Ministers of Magic themselves. Do you know what that means?' she asked, not waiting for an answer.
"One huge cover-up. Lupin, what sort of shitheap are you trying to dig into?"
Calypso was scrubbing the last of the pots she had used to make dinner when Pantry finally had screamed herself into silence.
Calypso knew that she would have to use the supplies in the pantry if she was going to make an edible dinner, and that meant Pantry's complete co-operation.
Which didn't look likely in Calypso's lifetime.
Calypso had solved the problem by walking past Pantry very calmly, and before the enchanted furniture knew what had happened, she had whipped Pantry open and jammed a wedge under her left door. At that, Pantry had made her objection well known to the whole region.
Calypso had run out the door, ears throbbing, found a pair of earmuffs in the garden shed, and had blissfully cooked while Pantry futilely yelled obscenities at her, and Fridge tried hopelessly to calm Pantry down.
Now silently fuming, Pantry sat in the corner like a black hole, radiating anger and resentment. Pantrys bad mood didn't worry Calypso in the slightest, as she checked on the food in the oven and left the kitchen for the serenity of the lounge.
"Ohhhhhhhhh…." She let out a noise of pure delight as she slowly walked around the room, eyes wide, one hand trailing over the cool spines of leather-bound spellbooks and dusty paper-backs. Never, had she ever believed that she would be in this situation. Only in her dreams had she ever had access to so many spellbooks, and when she woke up she would mope around miserably, knowing those dreams would never become reality - they were not future-telling dreams, just figments of her imagination.
Her fingers flitted over Incredible Beings, by Sonny Kivell, Studies of Vampires, by Penn Sylvania, A Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, by Gretchen Fogelberg.
No, start small, she thought logically, finally pulling herself out of her daydream.
She scanned the walls until she found what looked like old textbooks in one far corner.
Grabbing the whole lot of battered books off the shelf, she dumped them onto the coffee table, curled up on an orange and purple couch and began to read.
She had flicked through The Standard Book of Spells, grades 1, 2 and 3, (which she read before) had ignored Magical Theory, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, and Magical Draughts and Potions, (which she all knew perfectly) and was just starting to memorize A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration when another title caught her eye.
Unfogging the Future.
It was a very dog-eared paperback book – well used, Calypso thought. She dropped the Guide to Transfiguration and grabbed Unfogging the Future with relish.
Opening it up, she was very disappointed.
The book was dog-eared not due to studious use, but because of the laborious construction of flick-comics drawn in every corner of the textbook. Calypso counted six separate cartoons – one in the top corner, the middle and the bottom, and then on the other side of the page. The book was covered with graffiti, ranging from notes such as
'See you after class on the Quiddich pitch'
to
'Lucius Malfoy should be castrated'
to
'James rulz!'
Fascinated, Calypso put her thumb on the corner of the pages and rapidly flicked through the pages, watching the pencil drawings move.
One was of a smiley face that stuck it's tongue out and winked, another of a broomstick that did a loop-the-loop, a third of a horse or deer running elegantly over meadows, and a disturbing one of a dog ripping the leg off a stick figure, labeled Severus Snape.
Another one was a pencil that slowly wrote 'hello!'. A bird flapped its wings, and the sun rose and set.
Obviously, Remus had found Divination boring.
Calypso turned back to the start of the book and started reading the actual lessons between the graffiti, starting with tealeaf reading.
The air was chilly and carried the threat of evil in the castle where Octavia stood. Yet, she was not shaking from fear or cold – but from joyful anticipation.
She raised her head from the deep bow she had delivered to the man standing on the dais, and her eyes clouded over with reverence.
He was a commanding figure, tall and thin, draped in ink black robes and a wand lazily in his hand. All eyes were upon him, but his blood-red eyes were turned upon Octavia.
"Come forth, Octavia." He said quietly, but the amphitheater was so silent the words traveled over the oppressive stillness. To Octavia, the words were smooth as butter and milk – to any other observer, they would have been harsh and forbidding.
Trembling with delight, she walked forward to the man and fluidly got down on one knee and kissed his hand.
"It's been a long time, Octavia. A long time, and you have waited. All of your tribe have waited." He said in a voice that was filled with power and cruelty.
"For you, my Lord, I would wait forever." Octavia murmured back submissively.
Lord Voldemort gave a harsh laugh. "Graceful and demure. Oh, yes, you will do well!" His red eyes opened wider and looked around the two circles of black-robed wizards and witches – one circle his own tribe from England, including Lucius Malfoy, who was working hard to keep from showing his anger.
Lucius had worked hard to gain leadership of the Death Eaters in the early days. It had been difficult, but the rewards of being #2 to Lord Voldemort were fantastic. When his Lord was defeated by that little soon-to-be-dead twit, Harry Potter, Lucius had cunningly lied his way out of trouble, and gained power in the Ministry and was working as the top dog in the Dark Arts Underworld. It was a good life, but not the one he wanted.
When the Dark Mark imprinted into his arm began to burn, his heart leapt as he knew that once again he would become the leader of the fearsome Death Eaters, second only to the Lord himself, and second most feared wizard in history.
But that was before Peter Pettigrew came into the picture.
Pettigrew, the spineless double-crosser. Weak, timid and brainless, Lucius never regarded him as a threat to his powerbase.
Wormtail, a leader? Never.
But that was before the Silver Hand - the hand that changed Pettigrew forever. It was a gift from Lord Voldemort, filled with Dark Magic and powerful…so powerful.
Almost overnight, Lucius had found himself deposed of as leader of the Death Eaters, relegated to #3 spot by Rat-boy. Who was now a monster: cunning, brutal, strong, unforgiving…
And now, before his very eyes, Lucius watched himself relegated to #4 as the Australian woman gazed into Lord Voldemort's eyes with rapture. He shook himself out of it as his Lord turned to address the whole crowd gathered.
"My followers, today is a happy day indeed, for here with us, we have our freed brothers and sisters," he said, gesturing to the second ring of black-robed people, who bowed their heads graciously.
"Unlike you cowards," Voldemort hissed, "They have all spent long years in prison for me, instead of running, hiding or lying."
The first circle flinched, and the second sneered.
"And now that I have freed them from Devil's Island, we have a great task to accomplish together. One that I have no doubt we shall succeed in, because the Australasian Death Eaters have never failed me."
Calypso saw herself standing in the middle of a forest.
Which she was not concerned about.
From behind a tree leapt Peter Pan.
Which she also was not concerned about.
She watched herself pick up a shiny red apple from a basket on the ground and absently balanced it on the top of her head. That was fine.
But she did start getting worried when Peter Pan pulled a bow and arrow out from behind his back, and lined it up with the apple sitting seductively close to her brain.
She cringed involuntarily as she saw the arrow whistle close to her own head, and explode the apple into a shower of sticky, sugary shards.
Peter Pan flashed her a fairy-dust filled grin, thought happy thoughts and flew up into the sky, green leggings bright against the blue sky.
Weird, Calypso thought. But it wasn't over yet. From behind the same tree Peter Pan had just jumped out of, came Matt from Digimon.
What the hell? Calypso thought.
She watched herself calmly take another apple from the basket and place it on her head while Matt aimed, and shot the piece of fruit cleanly off her head, pinning it to the tree behind her. Matt gave her a secretive smile, and walked off into the distance.
Calypso didn't have time to watch where he went to, as from behind the tree came no less than Vegeta from Dragonball Z. The sinister looking Saiyan also produced a bow and arrow and shot the apple off the top of her head with relative ease before stalking off.
Mist rolled in from the edges of her vision, and quickly obscured all she could see.
Calypso leant back from her rapidly clouding crystal ball and sighed, mind humming.
What was that? She thought desperately. Her mind came up with nothing apart from the fact that she missed television.
She had developed a cramp in her neck from all the crystal-gazing, so she got up off the soft couch, went out the wide open ranch sliders to stand in the garden and do some stretches.
The day, Remus thought, couldn't get any worse.
He was wrong, but thankfully didn't know that at that present point in time.
All he knew was that he hated paperwork, and he had failed to crack any codes at all, despite spending the day hunched over parchments, trying one solution after another.
At least dinner wasn't burnt, he thought. A delicious smell reached his nostrils as he kicked off his boots at the front door and plodded inside, closely followed by Maria and Neil Johnson, her partner. Sirius (in dog form) had ran ahead, and now came gallumphing down the hallway to meet the others. Sirius suddenly changed into his human form with a small 'pop'.
He gave Remus a white-toothed, cheeky grin.
"Sirius!" Remus hissed. "Are you mad? Calypso's here, and…"
Sirius gave him no time to finish. He dramatically held up one finger and put it to his lips, and beckoned for the others to follow him. Mystified, they did so, Sirius tip-toeing down the hallway to the lounge.
There, curled up, lying on the purple and orange couch was a sleeping Calypso, golden hair spread out over the bright fabric, frowning and twitching slightly in her sleep. Like a dog chasing rabbits in its sleep, Remus thought ironically.
Sirius leant on the back of the couch, studying Calypso intently.
"And here's the interesting thing." He declared, and to the horror of all the rest, he reached over and poked Calypso hard in the ribs.
"SIRIUS!" Maria exclaimed angrily. "Don't do that!"
Sirius gave Maria a very superior look.
"She won't wake up, no matter what you do. Look, watch…" he said, and jabbed Calypso roughly a few more times. She didn't even blink. "I've been trying for a few minutes. She's absolutely coma-d out." The others stared at him, and started to gather around.
"I reckon," he said lazily, as Neil, Maria and Remus started prodding the inert Calypso themselves, "she won't wake up, even if I dump a bucket of cold water over her."
"No-one suggest he try it" Remus warned the others.
Sirius looked hurt. "Would I ever?"
"Fourth year, about three weeks before Christmas. You wanted to test whether I was just sleeping, or dead, if I remember correctly." Remus said lightly.
This stopped Sirius. "Oh yeah, I remember now. You were just sleeping after all." He said, nodding his head in agreement.
"Hey Remus, are her irises always white?" asked a deep voice from the across the room.
Neil Johnson was peering into Calypso's sleeping eyes with scientific interest.
"No…Remus said slowly, walking over. "They're usually blue-grey, but they went white before when I saw her crystal-gaze when she first arrived here."
"No way…" Neil let Calypso's eyelid drop. "You must be joking. She really crystal-gazed?"
Remus nodded, and the doctor excitedly had another look at Calypso's eyes.
"Incredible…" he muttered.
"What do we do?" Sirius asked with interest.
"NOT drop a bucket of cold water over her, it that's what you're thinking, Sirius." Remus shot.
Sirius opened his mouth to protest, but Maria cut in.
"Just let her sleep it off, I suppose. I think she's having a vision or a dream."
"How d'ya know?" Sirius asked, still stabbing Calypso in the ribs.
Maria waved the copy of Unfogging the Future, open to a very graffiti-d page in his nose.
"Because, Sirius, I wasted a lot of time paying attention in Div."
In fact, Maria was right – Calypso was having a dream.
She was sitting in a dingy, old-fashioned schoolroom, at a double wooden desk – the type with sloping flip-up lids, that you had to share with another person.
The boy next to her was scribbling something down on parchment, using a feather quill instead of paper and pen. Calypso fixed her gaze on him.
He was about fourteen, pale skinned and with silver-blonde hair, and the black robes he was wearing did nothing for his sickly complexion. Calypso leant over to try and see what he was writing.
The Dark Lord Most High,
Your loyal subjects are now all informed of the port-key for the next meeting place, and I am fixing that matter up with the Magical Transportation Office as we speak. Rest assured, my Lord, as usual there will be no trace.
Intriuged, Calypso leant further over to see more.
I have a shortlist of possible new recruits into our Eater tribe. All are members of DAYM and have my complete…
The quill had just scratched out the last few letters when a cane came down with an almighty THWACK just in front of Calypso's fingertips, making her body convulse with fright.
"GEEZ!" she gasped, heart pounding, and looked up at the fierce cane-bearer.
The woman was garbed in the oddest assortment of clothes Calypso had ever seen. A long black cloak covered an America Indian rawhide dress and delicate 18th century button-up boots peeked out from beneath. The woman wore a pointed black hat, and a hard expression. Brown eyebrows narrowed at Calypso, and the cane went sailing backwards, swishing, to land with another crack on the blackboard.
"Read it!" she barked.
Gulping, Calypso did so.
It was math – all about Sequences and Series, and insanely dull.
Suddenly the cane crashed into her desk again.
"You'll need a calculator for this one" the teacher said, and pointed her cane at the boy sitting next to her. Calypso turned around to read the rest of the letter, only to find that she couldn't understand it anymore. It was all in gibberish, and the pale boy kept writing with a maniacal glint in his eyes.
Suddenly, the classroom swirled and faded around her, and Calypso felt cold wooden floors turn to sand, and the seat disappear from under her. She fell with a muted thump into the beach.
Hurriedly sitting up, she rubbed her sandy behind and frantically looked around her.
The same bloody beach, she though. Thundering waves, grey sea and purple clouds. A slight whinny from behind her made her spin around.
There, patiently waiting, was her grey horse.
But this time, instead of leaping on, Calypso slapped it hard on the rump. Startled, the horse took off down the beach, and Calypso started running.
Do things differently, Virginia said. So I'm doing things differently.
Calypso must have run for half an hour, chest heaving, and getting sudden, shooting pains in her ribs, before she looked behind her. Rolling along quite happily was that swirling vortex of fear, only 400 meters off. With a fresh surge of sweat, she ran faster, zigzagging frantically across the sand, air cold and dry in her sore lungs.
But nevertheless, the black mist caught up with her, and swept around her, even as she screamed…
Dinner, Calypso thought pensively, was quite an interesting affair.
When she had finally stumbled sleepily into the kitchen, hair all over her face, there was another person with them. He was a large, solidly built man in his late thirties or early forties ,with roasted coffee-bean colored skin and a shaven head.
"This," Maria had introduced them, "is Neil Johnson, my partner."
Neil had shook Calypso's hand, and dwarfed it easily. Neil, Calypso discovered, wasn't a man of many words, but when he said something, everyone listened. No, that wasn't right, she thought again. He thought about what he had to say before he would say it, that was all.
They had been eating and talking pleasantly over dinner, Pantry still rumbling darkly, until Calypso asked what breed of dog Snuffles was.
Remus' fork stopped on the way to his mouth.
"Erm…don't know for sure, actually. So Maria, how was work?" he asked, changing the subject.
"So he's a mongrel then?" Calypso asked nastily, pushing carrots around with her fork, not taking her eyes off the dog sitting opposite her at the table.
Snuffles growled.
"Uh, nothing really happened. Reconnaissance is really boring, even with Neil's disgusting jokes." Maria said, trying in vain to steer conversation away from Sirius. "Salt please, Calypso."
"You know," Calypso continued, pushing the salt over to Maria without looking, "he sorta looks like a cross between a Doberman and an German Shepherd."
"Yeah, Recon is just sitting in Diagon Alley picking up gossip. I don't know about Maria, but gossip doesn't thrill me" Neil said quickly.
"Or maybe, a Rottie and a Black Labrador. Or a Collie perhaps, with that long coat." Calypso rested her gaze firmly on Snuffles, who looked away.
"I'm sure it's much more interesting than the Office shift. I can't stand paperwork." Remus continued, the beans on his fork abandoned.
"I'm just guessing here, but how about a cross between Lisa Fergesson and Mike Black?" Calypso said, voice dripping with sarcasam.
"I've never actually seen the offspring, a 'Sirius Black', but from the photos I've seen, a male specimen in his mid thirties should look just like your dear little Snuffles."
Conversation ground to a rocky halt.
Knives and forks clinked as they were placed into their plates and the users glanced at each other nervously. Remus licked his lips, and Maria grimaced at Neil, who looked to the ceiling.
"Whattya say, am I right?" Calypso said sweetly, still staring at Snuffles.
A rather uncomfortable silence filled the kitchen, which was broken after short while by Fridge, going 'Ooooooooooo…'
So everyone now, please write a sentence or two about what you liked and what you hated in the little box provided below. I especially like knowing what you DIDN'T like – it makes me think about what I have to work harder at.
So please review! You may get no money, but you will get my undying gratitude!