Autumn Leaves

Chapter 1- Pumpkin Spice Latte

Mycroft Holmes, the man that was The British Government, and Big Brother Extraordanaire, awakened in the worst of moods.

Said mood seemed to intensify as he turned on the telly and was told that the crisp autumn whether had finally decided to catch up with the color chaning of the leaves. It meant somethings that the man that was The British Government hid behind his indifferent, Smarmy Bastard mask.

One; Winter was close. Too close.

Two; The very much abhorned socialite galas and fundraiser events held by his family and many other political figures would increase. As would the paperwork and mettings with various politically acclaimed figures around the world- The President of the US, the heads of the CIA, MI6, and the Ministry of Defence.

These meetings also included some rather taxing family get-togethers with his mother and brother.

Yes, those were the most taxing of meetings during this time of year. He could feel the never ending migraine coming along and he still hasn't had his cup of coffee.

As Mycroft entered the building, he saw the unnatural quietude in the office and schooled his irritation as he saw the looks from his senior under-secretary and junior under-secretary and his left eyebrow twitched and as he entered his office he's glad he schooled his expression because sat afront his dek were the Prime Minister, the head of the Ministry of Defence and the secretary of the head of the CIA.

It was beyond early to start his bi-daily headache as the always prim&posh man had yet to have a single cup of coffee. Thankfully for him, the meeting wasn't long. Unfortunately, it brought on a weeks worth of paperwork and by evening, that headache had intensified thricefold still not a single cuppa coffee or tea to be seen which found him on his second box of cigars for the day and third cigar for the hour.

Mycroft looked at the single pile of paperwork left on his desk and wondered, not for the first time, if it was time to hire a P.A. But not just any P.A. He mused as he looked over at the classified file offered to him by the Queen a weeks prior. It wasn't why he was given to him but maybe he'd get lucky and she would accept the offer. Unfortunately there was no picture, only a description and an address.

Making a decision, Mycroft Holmes grabbed his overcoat and scarf and walked out of the building, knowing he would be followed anyway, he disregarded taking a car and walked, although not really aimlessly, for what felt like an hour until he stood in front of a three story building that was meerly a cafe with two extra floors for use.

Observing the cafe, he found it oddly peculiar but appealing. The cement was white and seemed to shimmer with sapphires, rubbies, and emeralds depending on the sun's angle. The windows went up through the whole front of thebuilding. First, second and third floor. The windows on the first floor, the cafe he reminded himself, took over the whole front and left of the floor, allowing an extensive amount of light and view out of the cafe. On the front glass, the name of the cafe was proudly displayed in elegant, golden old english letters- Magical Marauders Marauding Cafe, that shone in silver and onyx. The letters seemed to have evloding splashes that spilled onto the rest of the glass and formed witch hats, broomsticks, cats and coiling snakes, and the standard steaming cuppa.

Mycroft chuckled as he opened the door, and instead of a bell, he felt a whoosh of something come at him and his headache evapoarted with it as did the stress and irrate mood. For once, he felt he could relax outside of his office. Looking around as he stepped more inside, he saw various business men chattering or working around the un-suprisingly bigger on the inside cafe. Some had various sweets displayed infront of them on trays as well as different, assumingly customized, foam cups of various sizes and work in front of them.

There was a one way glass on one wall that allowed a look outside from various comforters displayed in front of a lit fireplace where some women sat giggling and gossiping quietly. The walls seemed a pastel tangerine with pastel coconut and mint accents on them. To the back was a wall with three doors- Bathrooms on the left, Teen Lounge in the middle and he guessed it led to the second floor, and Kitchen on the right in little golden plaques.

To the right, separting the middle and right was an L-shaped counter that came halfway to the front. Half of the counter, displayed the desserts. Icecream buckets displayed proudly in the middle were of every flavor. To the right, where the curve started, were shelf upon shelf displaying hand-made cakes. The the left ere different finger sweets; cookies, caramel bars, chocolate bars, etc, etc. Next to that display was the check out counter that had a mini chocolate foundu fountain neatly raining without a single drop spilled. On the wall next to the cake display, were different coffee machines for those preferring iced coffee or not, with the cups piled one upon the other. Cases with flavors were piled into pyramid stacks around the counter that stopped a few feet from the fireplace.

From the ceiling hung a balckboard that displayed the sales for the day, elegantly handwritten in chalk and Mycroft found himself entranced by every high loop and extention of certain letters. A moment later, a door clicks shut and draws his eyes away from the looping letters and towards the middle door, where a petite woman with messy black ringlets framing an aristrocratic face steps behind the counter.

Not a minute later do ten teenagers and five college students step out behind her, take a coffee and bag of sweets to go, and step out. It's a few minutes after them, that the business men and the women stand and follow the steps of the teens before heading off. Obviously, the cafe was closing for the day.

Emeralds connect with his own blue eyes before the petite woman sighs seeming to know whom he is, and with a wave of her hand the blinds lower, the closed sign is up, and the shop is cleaning itself.

"I thought it was against your people's laws to... perform magic in front of mundanes." Mycroft asks as he steps towards the tanned ebony who steps out from behind the counter and sits atop it as he moves to sit in a chainr in front of her.

"Well, Mycroft Holmes, as far as i'm aware. You already know about me and considering that you are the British Government, you have a much more indepth awareness of my people than most do." The smirk on her face turns playful as she pulls the ringlets up into a messy bun. "I wondered how long it would take you to come find me after her majesty gave you my file."

Mycroft scowled inwardly at her and bit back sucking his teeth infront of the aristrocrat. "I occupy a minor position in the British Government." He says with a sigh as he crosses his legs. "What I would like to know is what an aritrocrat like you, with two lady titles backing her and money to last her over a lifetime, is doing running a cafe after retiring as a Hit-Witch for hire?"

He's met with a glare that resembles a somewhat pout on her heart shaped face. "The same that a man with a Barony and enough money to last him three lifetimes if he invests properly is doing running the British Government." She shoots back as she crosses shapely legs at the knee.

"You're a curious thing, Eira Antheia Potter-Black." Mycroft says and is met with a sneer from the beautiful woman in front of him. Little spit-fire this one. He thinks to himself

"Get on with it, . I'm sure that you have paperwork that needs to be finished tonight."

"Work for me. Become my P.A. I 'm sure you were aware that this is why the Queen asked permission to give me your file, though she didn't need it as Queen." The sly smirk that creeps onto his face has her scowling though she soon starts chuckling at the man infront of her.

"And what about my shop? I'm not going to close it down after only a few months open just to work for you." Eira says, simply to learn of what his suggestion would be, though she already has plans of her own.

"Don't close it down." He states simply and she raises a beautifully shaped eyebrow at him. "Ask some of your friends or people you trust to take over for you."

"I make all of the sweets and cake myself."

"You'll have time to wake up and make everything you'll need for the day. The shop opens at Seven am, you awaken at Three am to make everything and put it on the display. You're done by Five am and go back to sleep until six fifty where I guess you take the next thirty minutes to do whatever you women do as your first customer doesn't come until Seven-Thirty. I'm not at the office until Eight-Thirty am. Plenty of time to get everything ready and meet me at the office." A smug smirk is on his face as she looks at him in slight awe. Mycroft could assume that he nailed her idea right on the head.

"Hmmm. Luckily I planned ahead months ago. Guess i'll call the Twins, Rolf and Luna later tonight." She says and her smirk comes onto her face as well as a scoff leaves her full pink lips as she sees his expression. "Guess you have your self a P.A, Mister. British Government."

Mycroft stands from seat and nods at the emerald eyed woman whom jumps off the counter and takes his extended hand before leading him to the door.

Just as Mycroft is about to step into the throng of people marring the streets outside her little cafe, a foam cup with cats, brooms and witch hats on it makes its way into his hands and she winks at him with a grin before closing the door and lights seem to flicker off.

He walks off and blends into the crowds, a chuckle escaping his lips as he decides to try what was in the cup.

A Pumpkin Spice Latte, huh?

Hopefully she brings him coffee, or sweets, every morning.

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Hope this made up for the short prologue! Enjoy! Let me know if you guys like it!