Chapter Thirty-Seven

Match Game

It was difficult keeping the students on track with their projects and their studies as Fall Break approached. When Jennifer had been in school, the Thanksgiving holiday meant only getting the Thursday of Thanksgiving and Frenzy Friday off (Jennifer had been told that the Muggles called that Friday "Family Day" for some strange reason, although the Wizard's chosen name for it seemed more appropriate). But now, students got the entire week off instead of a long weekend. Even at Sparring Club, the students were distracted... including the sparring students who were staff members, Jennifer thought with amusement. They all seemed to be focused on what needed graded and what needed cleaned before they hit the road and Portkey Stations.

"Heading home next week?" Raymond asked. He and Jennifer were busy picking up the practice wands after club and putting them back in a bag for next time.

"No, Hogwarts is still in session. I don't want to get in the way, so I made plans to spend time with friends in New York for the most part, although my schedule on Thanksgiving itself is going to be completely insane," Jennifer chuckled. "Part of it with family, part of it with friends... it seems like everyone I know wanted to share their personal Thanksgiving traditions with me this year."

"Good, I'm glad you won't be bored," Raymond said with a smile. Jennifer could plainly see he had been planning to invite her to his father's house if she hadn't had other arrangements.

"Definitely not, although I wonder about Kay Sinclair," Jennifer mused. "I think she told me her parents were in Australia until Christmas. I hope she finds somewhere to go. I'd hate for anyone to be alone on Thanksgiving. Anyway, I should go finish grading their projects. I'm glad I told them to turn them in a day early so we can have a demo tomorrow."

"I wish I had your foresight. I have tests tomorrow," Raymond admitted.

"Good luck getting out of here on time then," Jennifer said, hurrying off. Raymond watched her go, but then frowned, not liking the idea of anyone spending Thanksgiving alone. He looked over at the stands where Kay and Gretchen were chatting after sparring. Gretchen had been attempting to help Kay get caught up, and Kay was now top of the beginner class.

Raymond walked over to them, the two looking up in surprise when he came over.

"Hey, girls. Kay, Jennifer was just telling me something about your family being in Australia or something?" Raymond said.

"Oh, yeah, they're on another Magical Creatures expedition, actually, surveying the Southern Ocean. Why?" Kay asked curiously.

"Well, if you don't have any plans, and you don't mind a bit of foul language from a family full of occasionally tipsy Aurors, you are welcome to spend it with my family. People drop in that house all the time anyway, so they won't mind one more," Raymond offered. Kay stared at him.

"She doesn't have any plans, and Kay can outcuss and outdrink a sailor," Gretchen replied quickly. "I'm going back home, so I can't play host. You do want to go, don't you Kay?"

"Sure, why not?" Kay heard herself say.

"Great, then I'll stop by your classroom before lunch tomorrow and give you directions," Raymond said.

"Great," Kay said. The two witches stood and watched him leave. "That was really out of the blue. What do you think Jennifer said to him?"

"I think she left out the part where Lavender asked us to her Mother's house," Gretchen said with a grin.

"So he was just being nice," Kay concluded.

"That's true, but at least you have a foot in the door now, yes?" Gretchen said with a knowing smile. Kay blinked and then blushed bright red.

"Just what are you implying? What makes you think I'm interested in Ray Eldridge?" Kay asked.

"Because of what Jennifer just did," Gretchen said with a shrug. "She wouldn't have set you up like that unless she thought you were interested, and since she can read minds, she must have seen something."

"You're not going to tell anyone, are you?" Kay asked in a low voice.

"Of course not, you're in my Coven," Gretchen reminded her. Kay let out a sigh of relief as they walked off the field.

After talking to Ray, Jennifer had gone straight to the Commissary with an enigmatic smile. But the smile faded slightly when she saw how glum Lavender was, sitting alone at the corner table. Grabbing only a cup of coffee, Jennifer sat down.

"What's wrong? You missed practice today," Jennifer asked, letting her spectacles slide down.

"Hanna and I broke up," Lavender admitted, Jennifer's expression turning sympathetic. "It would have been nice if it had lasted longer, but she was jealous of all of my friends and was always accusing me of having crushes and looking at other witches. It just got too controlling."

"Then it sounds like a mutual break up," Jennifer said. "After all, it isn't right for her to get that controlling, but at the same time, you've also not been focused on her, have you?" she asked. Lavender grimaced at that.

"You're right. It wasn't working for either of us," Lavender agreed somberly. "I think I'll go raid the desert cart, since there aren't any scones to eat."

"Is that a hint?" Jennifer grinned, checking the time and taking out her contact mirror. "Get Severus," she said, and Lavender smiled thinly. "Severus, is there any way I can get an emergency plate of scones in my Cloak Chest? I'm asking for a friend. No, really, I am. I have a friend that needs cheering up, but it's Coven related so I can't give you any details. Yes, well, how many favors do I owe you already?" she inquired, and then blinked. "That many? Well, I suppose I'll simply have to get even during the holidays. You are going to come to the concert next month, aren't you? Yes, of course I'm seeing you next week, I'm asking for a friend. Yes, alright, see you then."

"Who needs a phone when you have a mirror?" Lavender teased her as she snapped it shut.

"Oh, well, I suppose it doesn't give you the benefit of writing text messages and all that silliness, but it's all I need, really," Jennifer said with a smile. Then set her cloak down flat so she could work out a covered plate. "Oh, yay!" Jennifer exclaimed when she uncovered the plate.

Not only were there scones, but there was some of Sagittari's baklava as well. Right on top was a plastic bag with a cheese danish and a small note attached. Smirking softly at that, she opened the note and read it.

"'Now you owe me two more favors.' Yes, I expect he's right," she agreed with amusement, putting the note in her overalls pocket and helping herself to a large piece of the baklava.

"Is this dinner?" Kay asked as she and Gretchen stepped up, staring at the plate.

"I needed carbs," Lav grunted.

"Works for me," Gretchen decided, grabbing herself a tea. Kay, at least, went over and got a small plate with a chicken burger first, but was quick to scarf it down and was ready for a scone and coffee.

"So Jennifer, just what did you tell Raymond, anyway?" Kay asked.

"Why nothing, Kay, only that your parents were out of the country and you couldn't spend Thanksgiving with them," Jennifer said with a smile.

"You didn't tell them she was coming to my Mom's?" Lavender asked.

"Um, about that, Lav... see, Raymond asked me to go over to his house, so..."

"Oh, I get it. Well done, Jennifer," Lavender grinned.

"Yes, but how about we don't talk about it anymore here?" Kay said insistently.

"Sure, we can talk about it during Coven Night. Are we still having it tomorrow night?" Lav asked.

"Yes, I told my parents I wouldn't be home until late Saturday," Gretchen said.

"Fine, it'll give me something to do tomorrow night, and I promise I won't challenge anybody to a drinking contest this time," Kay said. "I might stay over at our other friend's penthouse, though, since I'm in no rush."

"That's a great idea... as long as the offer still stands, that is," Lav agreed.

"If not, I have a second solution if needed," Jennifer chuckled, and they all agreed to stay in New York. They were talking so cheerfully about it and contemplating going shopping that Lavender cheered up tremendously. Still, Jennifer thought with a private smile, there was something else that would cheer Lavender up even more.

Jennifer made sure that the four of them were much earlier than usual getting to the Witches' Book Club, on the pretense that she still needed a drink and wanted to hang out in the Reading Room for a while. Jennifer quickly scoped out the jazz club with a smile as they entered, very glad they had come early enough that the place was relatively empty.

"Do you girls mind sitting at the bar? I need to get my drink still," Jennifer said.

"I need to get mine as well," Kay agreed.

"Sure, I don't mind," Lav said brightly. Gretchen, sensing Lav's enthusiasm and remembering what Jennifer had done the day before, couldn't be a bit suspicious of her old teacher's true intentions as the four of them took seats at the bar near where a certain barwitch with short blonde hair was busy making drinks for one of the tables.

"Good evening, um... Kacey, wasn't it?" Jennifer asked.

"Kenzie," Lav corrected immediately.

"Yes, Kenzie, of course, sorry," Jennifer said innocently. Gretchen sighed in resignation and took a seat knowingly.

"Good evening, chanties," Kenzie said with a smile. "Be right with you."

"We have enough time for a starter drink before we go to our meeting tonight, but I suggest everyone pick something light to start, even if we are staying over tonight," Jennifer advised them.

"No problem, Jennifer," Kay agreed, and Gretchen did the same, while Lavender seemed too distracted to notice, lost in her own thoughts as she waited for Kenzie to get caught up and come back over.

"So what can I serve you girls?" Kenzie asked.

"A house brew for now, and a highball with Wailing Inis and Coke in about fifteen for the Coven," Jennifer said.

"House brew sounds good," Kay agreed.

"Guiness for me," Gretchen said.

"How about you, Lav?" Kenzie asked.

"How about a Slippery Witch Vodka extra sweet with a cherry-stuffed strawberry garnish?" Lavender asked.

"Uh huh," Kenzie said, suddenly looking quite guarded, deciding to draw the brews first. "Is this for a date? Because I'm betting it's not for one of your companions," she said, nodding at Gretchen and Kay, who were both obviously confused by the strange response from the barwitch, and Jennifer, who was watching them both with open interest.

"No, I'm all alone. My girlfriend left me because she didn't trust me," Lav admitted.

"I wonder why," Kenzie replied, drawing the Guinness next. "You know the last witch that ordered that garnish for themselves instead of for a date ended up with the strawberry stuffed up their nose."

"Go right ahead, I don't mind. I won't sue you or anything," Lav decided.

"Considering who my lawyer is, you'd be wasting your money anyway," Kenzie informed her, turning her back to them to put the cocktail together.

"Well, I don't know why you don't like her drink order, but for the record, I want to say that Lav is very trustworthy," Kay protested.

"Of course she is, Kay. She wouldn't last very long in this Coven if she wasn't, considering there are two Truth Seekers in it," Jennifer agreed with a chuckle. "If there is one thing I'd never doubt, it's Lavender's sincerity."

"Yes, but in the meantime, while you're looking for another girlfriend, can you pretend to be going out with me again?" Gretchen asked Lav, and Kay laughed at that.

"Oh, come on, Gretch, you can handle Frank Byrd," Kay said.

"Look, Gretchen, the solution to the problem is actually quite simple," Jennifer said, pausing when Kenzie came back with Lav's cocktail, smiling thinly at Lav after making it as ordered. Lavender smiled at her, taking out the garnish. "All you have to do is go out with him once."

"What?" Gretchen said, staring at her as if she were crazy.

"Just tell him up front not to expect much on a first date, go somewhere public and get it over with," Jennifer advised. "After that, if he's not interested, he'll move on and you won't have to worry about dodging him any more."

"You know what? She's got a point," Kay said.

"Yes, but what if do go out with him and he's still interested?" Gretchen asked.

"Then simply tell him that you don't plan to go out with him again unless it's with you exclusively," Jennifer shrugged.

"Yeah, that would totally cool him off," Kay agreed, drinking her beer.

"Fine, I'll try it," Gretchen decided. Jennifer nodded at her with a smile.

"Does anyone else need a drink for tonight?" Kenzie asked, putting Jennifer's Coven drink down.

"Got mine," Kay confirmed.

"Me too," Gretchen said.

"Same," Lav said after taking the knotted cherry stem out of her mouth.

"We should probably get going then," Jennifer said, paying with a card while everyone contributed to the tips. "Thanks Kenzie!"

The others got up as well and walked towards the bead curtain, Jennifer catching a private smile on Lav's face. Jennifer smiled enigmatically herself, turning and walking inside.

Lunette easily heard them as they came in. They were chatting about possible safe places that Gretchen and Frank could go on a date and offering to send her a phone call halfway through just in case she needed rescued.

"Hey! Have you four started without me?" Lunette protested with a laugh.

"Jennifer wanted to get here early for some reason, so we sat at the bar for a bit," Kay explained.

"Oh, did she?" Lunette said suspiciously, and didn't have to lock her gaze with Jennifer for long to see she was up to her old tricks again. "I see you've been busy."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Jennifer said with an innocent smile.

"So what was that bit with the drink, anyway, Lav?" Kay asked.

"I also have no idea what you're talking about," Lav decided.

"I see this is going to be a productive night," Lunette said sarcastically, and suggested they sit down at the table.