Another Start, how insane.

[Alexander W. Black]

I hate the way how things have gone about. I hate how I always leave and return. But I can't be blamed for everything, I just can't ever find the one thing that's capable of holding me back like years before. I always tell myself, this time I'll definitely stay, that I won't go back on my word. But of course I fail miserably. Well seriously, what can I do? It's just a matter of me searching for the real deal.

With a sigh, Alexander looks up at the cloudy sky, as always he arrives at the moment where rain is about to fall, and very few people are in sight. Some might call it an omen, but for Alex, it was just a way of being. Alexander wore a red t-shirt, with a pair of jeans, walking about, looking at the ground with his hands in his pockets. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply and savored the scent that was brought upon by the weather itself.

Smiling, Alex opened his eyes. Seeing everything so familiar. This didn't surprise him though. He had walked this same path before, long ago when Wyatt was around. Ah, Wyatt. How he missed his past, his friends, and well family.

I wonder where they all could be at, in this point of their lives. Probably becoming successful and doing something out of their lives instead of just traveling like a nomad. Like me. I should do something, I should work, maintain purpose. Do something...

With that in thought, Alex walked on, awaiting for something to hit him.

[Kairi Soto]

There was a slight breeze bringing the scent of rain, it was promising, it smelled fresh and new, though as it swept down the narrow alley, it became tainted. Pipe smoke and dirt and poison reached Kairi's nose as she crouched against the wide rail of a dirty stoop, camping on the steps in front of it's shop. Staring around at the empty doorways, she smoked a squished cigarette that was pinned between her lips, causing spirals of smoke to curl around her tired eyes. Out of habit, her twitching hands twisted around each other, her long fingernails scraping dirt and ash out from under the others. A fresh breeze settled in front the other direction, stirring the tangles that had now started to form the ends of her long hair.

Under her thin black zip up, Kairi's skinny arms raised with goosebumps at the shallow breezes, wide blue eyes wandering upwards to look at the sky. Rain was coming, you could see it now, dark clouds fat with water. She glanced down at her jeans, fraying rip at the knee. She'd have to find some place to sit out this one, maybe Borsen's.

The sound of footsteps reached her ears, and she jerked upright. A young one, clean and clothed at the least, red t-shirt and jeans that weren't fraying. Kairi's eyes darted over his face and body, taking in all the details. He didn't belong here. Perfect.

There was a pile at her feet, long chains, gilted gold and silver, snarled to all hell around each other. Catching the end of one chain, she pulled it free of the jumble, holding up a long silver chain with a fat golden ring on it, encrusted with tiny rubies and emeralds. It glinted, even in the meager light of the cloud covered sky, entrancing and beautiful with some other-worldly feel. Cursed ring of desire; hard to find, very very easy to sell.

Kairi stepped down behind him, catching him by his shoulder and lightly pushing herself to his front. "Come here often, dollface? Take a look at this." Holding the chain out for him to see, her hand slid from the young man's shoulder to his face, she felt her fingertips brush his cheek. "What a wonderful face you have, truly amazing. A man like you could have anybody under his spell in an instant with this." Under any other circumstances, this might seem blithe, even comical, though Kairi's creeping, sickened voice met the ears like poison. "Only ten galleons."

[Alexander W. Black]

The hair on the back of his neck prickled up, while the rest of his body stood rigid. An unusual sense of fear ran over him, as if he really needed to fear for the worst. With in take of breath, Alexander relaxed and looked at the woman who stood beside him. She surely was not in the best condition, and Alexander never really had confronted someone like this before. With a slanted smile, he back away from her and wondered through what misery she could've been in. But being a gentlemen, Alexander just stood quiet and thought quickly of what to say. - Nothing. He didn't quite exactly know what would be proper. Clearing his throat, he looked at her eyes.

"Erm, I'm really sorry, I'm not interested in buying anything. In fact I'm in need of money myself these days..." Honesty surely was the best way to go, but sometimes people didn't take it quite so well. He learned that years ago when he had a meeting over at the ministry once. It was all a disaster. He brushed his hand softly on his cheek, tracing off anything that she might have left behind. With that in mind, he looked up at the sky quickly, aware of the quick coming rain.

Being polite Alexander began, "Would you in fact want to have a cup of tea, or something of the sort?" In Alexander's eyes, she looked as if she needed some sort of help. Though with a feel as if he knew who he was talking to, but yet unaware of it. She didn't look anything familiar at all, and well he hadn't been here since ever. So people had changed for the best or the worst. A little hesitant, Alex asked "In fact would there be anything you'd like me to help you with Madame?" Showing off his perfect teeth as he grinned, Alexander chuckled a bit, trying to give off the impression that he was quite comfortable with her, and that it would have been a pleasure for her to join him. Which was sorta of true, at an extent that is.

[Kairi Soto]

The man had backed out of her grip, looking more surprised than anything. Their eyes locked for a fraction of a second, and she could already tell he was going to refuse. Ring of desire, busted. Glancing back down the alley to make sure nobody else had popped up, she decided to pursue this one. He surely wasn't too steely, she had seen the sincerity etched in his stares. Eyes roving down, Kairi's hands twisted around the loose medals and glinting hunks of jewels. "Seven, and I'll throw in something pretty for your lady." She shook her cluster of chains towards him, making sure that the jewels would catch the light. "What do you say, huh?" Five galleons would room her for the night, and buy a drink the next morning. Kairi could sell cancer to a blind man in a sticky situation.

His eyes drifted upwards, checking for rain. Kairi felt hers follow, a sudden sense of urgency into scoring some cash. She would not sleep in an alley, pushed against a wall with an old cat and a scarf for protection from the downpour. Not again.

Her mind jumped on a new sales pitch, though her had already spoken over her new thought. Something about tea. She hesitated, confused. Like she could afford tea, for Christ's sake, who did this guy think he was? With a sigh, Kairi looked back down at her fraying shoes, suddenly feeling very, very tired. She hadn't had a cup of tea in good company for so long. Maybe this guy knew what it was like. Glancing back up, though, his straight, clean grin caught her attention. That smile was so sincere and kind, and it was asking if she needed help. Pretentious bastard, he spoke to her like an old friend, it was incredibly amusing. She'd let him slide with this one. "Listen bub, you ever try to live a night out here? Don't act like you can throw me a bone and make my life complete." Though she felt like an older sibling addressing the family baby, exhaustion crept into her voice, betraying any confidence. "A cup of tea ain't gonna do me any good out here."

[what what, two am finish time for sleep ]

[Alexander W. Black]

"Seven, and I'll throw in something pretty for your lady."

His lady was long gone. She had disappeared what seems like only a year ago. The love of his life had never answered the one question he had been dying to ask her since the first day he met her. Even if she had qualities any one person would be scared of, he in fact was delighted by them, fascinated you could say. His love life was some of what you can probably say, a tragedy. No one, no one, had such a influence on Alexander than Eva Storm. His heart thumped hard, causing him some pain. Hitting his chest with his right fist, he smiled at the girl that stood right in front of him. Showing no sign of pain, or grief. All he knew was that Eva Storm was a grave beyond the horizon.

Alexander chuckled at the following words that spilled the young lady's mouth. Of course he would know how it was, trying to find a place to sleep, knowing you had no where to go, only because of the lack of money. But he also knew it wasn't quite keen to ask someone in such state, such thing. If you know what I mean. Alexander simply looked over her and smiled. Through the very few bit of minutes that only passed by, Alexander started to have some quite of care for this young woman. His old friends would always tell him that he had such a kind heart, but Alexander sometimes didn't think so. He did after all carry the blood of a maniac woman who nearly helped the Dark Lord destroy all of those who cared for what was good.

With a sigh, Alexander placed his hand into his pockets, kicking a rock away looking down at the floor, then up deep into the girl's eyes. Assuring her that he meant no harm but only good. "Then tell me madame, what exactly would do good to you out here. Perhaps I can spare something for you? Your command, perhaps is my only wish." With a cheeky smile, he chuckled once again. Nodding to himself, as if in mind he had an inside joke.

[Kairi Soto]

A short pause perforated the air between them. Something she had said seemed to have struck a chord with him. Poor thing.

With a flash along the lines of deja vu, Kairi couldn't help but grin at this kids goofy manner. Her she was, in desperate need to find a room for the night, haggling a boy that could barely have been out of school, and he cracks her hardened front with one cheeky comment. It was almost as if they had known each other quite well in past lives.

Dropping back onto one leg, Kairi arched her eyebrows at him in mock scorn. "A million galleons." How the hell had this kid put her in such a lighthearted mood? She hated him already. "Either that, or a good beer."

What a wonderful game to play. Kairi eyed his pockets, wondering where he kept his coin purse, and trying to figure how much he could drink before was dead on his feet. The last guy she'd tried this with had made it through half the Leaky Cauldron's stock of amber ale before he slumped over in his chair, already having spent anything Kairi might have gotten her hands on. This one was built rather slightly, and still looked young as all hell, maybe a glass or two of dark beer until he was wobbly. She might even feel bad if this worked. But hey, two nights in a bed is worth one night's remorse.

"I know a place that I can get us a round with these," she shook her fistful of chains, "One the edge of the Lane. Ain't half bad. If Andy's working he might even let me crash on the bar." She chuckled aloud at a brief thought of how she had first met Andy, though it was a story for another time. "You up for a few rounds?" Kairi flashed a charming smile that had a hint of a laugh behind it, not only hoping he would agree so she might knock him out and make him regret ever walking down Licentious today, but also because this was the easiest conversation she'd had in a while. Good thing morals are for suckers.

[Alexander W. Black]

"A million galleons, either that, or a good beer."

Alexander laughed suddenly, amused by this woman that stood in front of him. It really had been a while since Alexander had enjoyed a great time like now. She kept on, informing him of a place that was well known to her. "Well dear, I don't mind inviting you to a few beers, after all, that's probably all I can do at this point. These days, it's hard to find a decent job around here. Though I hear they're hiring over at the castle of Hogwarts. Which is catching my interest once again." He shook his head for a moment. He started thinking out loud again. Something that was becoming a little common since he after all was alone throughout the few months he had been alone.

He looked over at the girl, extending his right arm to her. "Well, we shall try this place of which you speak. Hopefully it's not half as bad as you say. Now what brings you here though? Actually, first, shall we not introduce ourselves?" He chuckled once again. This time it was only because he was acting like if he were someone of high class, sophisticated and all. Which in fact he wasn't, but acting it out wasn't such a bad thing to do was it? Might as well have fun and enjoy a great time, then sulk over something totally absurd. Alexander's only thought was to make the most out of life.

"My name is Alexander Black, and who shall you be?"

[Blah, it's sooo short. =[ ]

[Kairi Soto]

A sigh of wind pulled a clump of hair loose across her nose. Looking at it, almost self conscious, Kairi brushed it away, pushing it behind her ear as the boy accepted her invitation, rattling something about working at Hogwarts in the process. At this, her attention was spurred momentarily. Though she knew it would be disastrous should she try and teach, there was always something about Hogwarts that felt like home away from home. God knows that landing a job there would turn out much better than buying Zonko's had. For a split second, she felt herself wondering if anyone had looked through the boarded over windows recently. Doubtful.

Out of her personal bubble once again, the young man had extended his arm to her. Momentarily confused, Kairi gave a short laugh at her own stupidity, though hardly having time to make any sarcasm as he fired off a couple mouthfuls of words consecutively. Slightly overwhelmed, Kairi found herself giggling. This kid was quite refreshing, though to what degree she had yet to find out.

"My name is Alexander Black, and who shall you be?"

She felt herself give a smile, the usual with greetings, the name slipping in one ear and out the other.

"I am Ka-"

This one stuck.

With a feeling along the same lines as a brick sliding down your esophagus then dropping out via your nether regions, Kairi felt herself very short of breath and very, very slow. "Black like, Black Black?" Her eyes darted over his face, round childlike eyes and pale lips, how the hell had she missed that? In her head, her poor, overwrought brain was still trying to remember the child's voice. "Like Alexander Black, Black. Oh holy crap."

Hands to her forehead, she hadn't even noticed that her hands had forfeited hold of her chains. "For the love of Jesus, child, where have you been!? I haven't seen you since... When Brandon left! It was like Rainne graduated, and suddenly everyone else disappeared." He must have been her height when they were in school, now he stood at least a head and a half taller. Grabbing his shoulders, she gave him a good shake, looking at his face. The Alex that she had known did not have such a strong jawline. Or stubble, the kid had stubble! "Look at you, oh my god..!"

[Alexander W. Black]

Alexander simply laughed, amused by the girl's reaction once he had extended his arm to her. For it had only seemed for just a mere second that she had totally forgot there was such thing as to being curteous and gentle. Smiling away, he nodded and looked at her, where she began to reveal her own name like he had done just moments ago. But there was something wrong in the process. She stopped for what only seemed midway of her name.

And so, Alexander became completely perplexed after that. For it seemed that there was something happening in which he did not know of, but yet it was happening right in front of him. The girl kept talking, naming familiar names from his past, those of who he had been in school with. But he didn't see the connection between the girl right in front him and them at all. He didn't undestand who this person could have been? How could she have known dear old Rainne, or even Mr. Brandon himself who was all high class and all. This brought him aback. He took a few steps away from the girl.

Leaning his head to the side, he squinted his eyes and wondered. She took him in her hands and shook him. She spoke to him as if she knew him from long ago, but that couldn't have been the case. Alexander didn't recognize the person who stood in front of him, nothing seemed familiar at all. With all this in mind he only could have done one thing. Which was the only thing that any other normal person would have done.

"W-who are you?!" The words escaped, so soft and sincere. He looked over at her eyes, they were familiar to him. He had seen them before. They had been somewhere in a place where he loved being at. Where he had fun and enjoyed a great portion of his teenage years at.

So he waited for her answer, perplexed and anxious.

[Kairi Soto]

That soft, caring voice was still the same after all this time. As he stuttered out his question, Kairi couldn't help but wonder how much she had changed since then. She could feel him peering into her eyes like they might forfeit some sort of hint or clue, though they weren't surrendering anything any time soon.

For a few seconds, an electrical silence hovered between them, Kairi mute in disbelief and Alex in obvious confusion. The open mouthed look of pure perplexity on his boyish face nudged her into frantic, excited giggles, almost inhibiting any form of speech. But this was too good.

"Kairi! Kairi Soto, you knuckle head!" Still with the widest grin in the world, she shot a playful jab into his shoulder. "I can't believe you forgot me..! Punk." For a few seconds, the entire dismal past melted away into Alex's wide eyes, and she almost forgot the state of her clothes and hair and being in general. Like Zonko's hadn't been flushed, and her brother wasn't missing. Like she hadn't ended lives in a fire. Like she wasn't just about to rob one of her good friends from school. Funny how that happens.

[agh, so short. sorry 'bout the time, had to break in the new beer pong table ]

[Alexander W. Black]

Alexander smiled widely in amusement. A little chuckle escaped from his lips as he started walking around Kairi. She looked so much more different than the last time he saw her. He brought his hand to his mouth, a little bewildered by what he's seeing. He chuckled again, crossing his arms, now standing right in front of her once again. "You're kidding me right?! I-I mean, what happened to you?! Y-you look so different, so unrecognizable. My dear..."

He couldn't believe that it was her at all. Kairi was so much more glamorous, in appearance that is. The once beautiful girl that was once a team mate was now someoen totally different, in a aspect though. Who knows if other things changed. He went over to her, tilted his head only close to hers. A simple attempt to see if he could recognize only a bit of her that had not changed. Her eyes. He looked deep into hers only to find his own reflected green eyes. Pulling back, he smiled.

"Really, explain to me what the hell went wrong with you?!"

[Ahh! Boo, I don't know what else to put. Next one should be longer... I hope]

[Kairi Soto]

Apparently, she had changed quit a deal more than he had. In contrast to her spasm of joy and disbelief, Alex remained quite unruffled, merely chuckling and taking a step around her. Reflexively, she stiffened as he did this, unsure of what she looked like in his eyes. Most likely a dirty bum, seeing as that was how she had been living for a while, but it's not like her vanity had abandoned her.

He now stood in front of her again, though her grin was gone, replaced by a pair of knitted eyebrows and and wan, pressed lips. Look where the magnificent, proud Kairi Soto had landed herself after school. Embarrassment was not something she was used to, though she felt it burning in her cheeks. Questions poured from the boy, and her attempt to answer them was thwarted by the swelling and burning of her throat, rendering her unable to speak. Damned broken fronts. It was strange what revisiting childhood could do to you.

After a deep inhale, her flush faded and throat opened. Kairi's brain skittered over her past two years and tried to come up with something half-truth and unrevealing, though stopped short as Alex's face suddenly loomed in front of hers. Emerald-toned eyes stared back into hers, the closest thing she could imagine to a perfect mirror. At this move, Kairi nearly smiled, until she realized that he was looking for something that had stayed the same. Something that was still untouched. This was a brutal reality check for someone who wanted to believe that they had changed minimally, not volumes and for the definite worst. Kairi found herself biting her lower lip as what little reality she had crumbled as Alex grinned.

"Really, explain to me what the hell went wrong with you?!"

Dipping her head at this question, she found her teeth clenched together over her worried tongue so hard that she could taste blood, her throat so tight she couldn't even swallow it. In a short breath, she managed to spit out an answer, her voice now airy and cracking.

"I don't know. I don't."

[Alexander W. Black]

A sudden surge ran through Alexander's mind. His smile faded quickly as he realized how he had said things. How Kairi must've heard it in a different manner than what he had intentionly made it to be. Her voice had cracked and it seemed to him that she had struggled to answer. Sometimes people didn't know what happened to them until someone comes and slaps them with reality or something of that sort. This was the case for Kairi for what is seemed, or so that's what he thought.

With a sigh, Alexander walked over to Kairi and simply hugged her. Her head close to his chest. He meant well for her and didn't want her to be all sad, no thanks to him. But either way, he hugged her, to assure her that he was there for her, and that she could count on him.

"I'm sorry if I sounded like a total numbnut, that wasn't my intention at all. It just that you've really changed quite a bit. But well we can fix that can't we?!" He smiled and chuckled, still holding her in his arms. "We all change afterall, I mean, I'm pretty sure I don't look the same at all."

[Agh, I was inspired but it went to hell...]

[Kairi Soto]

As a rumbled chill of moist wind swept overhead, Kairi found shelter under Alex's chin. With a deep exhale, she sank into her old friend, pressing her forehead to his breastbone while he talked to her. Swallowing hard, she prepared herself for a nervous breakdown, and instead found herself laughing at his choice of words. "No, Alex, you're the same goofy little crap I used to know." Her spoke into his chest, muffled and smiling a small smile.

This must have been the most volatile interaction either of them had had in a while; strange-offended-exhilarated-morose. Talk about emotional smoothie. Kairi exhaled shortly at this rather sardonic thought, swollen throat and burning eyes gone. "It's a good thing though."

Turning her ear to his chest, she let out a long sigh, open eyes peering at the gray sky through wisps of dark hair. Feeling his heartbeat under her cheek, Kairi lightly tucked both arms around him, letting him know how he was appreciated. After a few moments, a thought entered her head. "Do you want to go get some tea? I have a few sickles."

[Alexander W. Black]

[Haha! =P]

Warmth had started spreading all over Alexander, as if it were a familiar but yet foreign feeling to him. It caused some type of confusion to him but he simply ignored it and placed it aside. That was to be dealt with later on. Tighting his grip around Kairi, Alexander chuckled. "You would think I would actually let you pay for something, when at first I was the one who proposed the same thing to you? I think not. Well I mean..." He shook his head, half laughing to himself. "...I mean that I would love to go have some tea with you, but of course this would be on my tab, not yours. What would that make me? Can the word 'babarian' be of any help?" He snickered as he looked down at Kairi.

Alexander never thought he would have ever had any type of affection with Kairi. Back when they attended school, he felt as if she was one of the elites, up top with Rainne and Brandon. Rainne as a motherly figure who tortured you for your own good. Brandon as the cold hearted brother who seemed to simulate he was there for you, but meant harm. And Kairi as the evil sister who would try to make your life miserable at any chance given. Those were the elites of the Slytherin team, who everyone looked up to. Sure they didn't seem like nice people, but once you got to know them, they didn't mean any bad. Though he never talked to Kairi.

Coming out of his thoughts, Alexander began to let go of Kairi. Insticntively he reacher down to her hand and grabbed it into his. He didn't know he was doing it but it only seemed natural. He smiled and looked over at Kairi. "So dear, where exactly would you like to go? I'm open to any place, any price. Just for you." He began walking to where the pubs were, tugging her along. Awaiting for her reply. He was only hoping he could make things better for her. That's the least he can do as a friend.

[-sigh- it happened again at the end.]

[Kairi Soto]

[any guess who got arrested then subsequently hella grounded?]

This was familiar, or more like something deja vu-ed. Years ago maybe, after a rude awakening from Rainne on the dewy grass of the Pitch, using the same hapless kid as a pillow. Probably more than once. And most likely, half the team.

She felt his chin brush the top of her forehead, along with some witty little rant, that regardless, did nothing to assuage Kairi's vanity. She was going to pay her bit, if only because this kid had been a name away from having nothing left in his pockets. "And can the phrase 'Clan o' Soto massive pride issue' be of any help to you, sir?" She smiled as Alex drew away, his hand closing around hers as he queried on their destination. Before Kairi had a chance to insist that he would be choosing, he had taken off, herself in tow.

Chuckling at this audacity, something Kairi missed from her own brighter days, she stepped along, attempting to deal with the bundle of magical artifacts hanging from her wrist. Looping the knotted end of the chains through her belt loop and into her pocket, where the hung off her hip like some rizty pocketwatch. "Ah, you're picking." Next to him, her quick, light robbery step seemed unnatural, her attention devoting to matching her step with his natural gait. "And you're not paying, I've got about thirty galleons hanging off my pocket. Thirty-five if I finagle my way." Fifty if she still scared the sh*t out of the two employees in Borgin and Burke's.

"Pick a place, any place."

[Alexander W. Black]

Alexander snorted at her. As if he were going to let her pay for a drink. "Ha! 'Clan o' Soto massive pride issue', please." He snickered to himself and just kept on walking, not exactly sure where he was heading to but something in his mind would click. All Alex was trying to process right now, was how he was going to buy the drinks. It was no money issue, he just didn't want Kairi to pay one sickle. Especially when there had be something good coming forth his path.

Looking back at Kairi, he tightened his grip and wondered, "Have you been in contact with anyone from the team?" A simple distraction can cause a lot of damage. Would she know it? No. But then again, who knew. His mind went back into a flashback when the whole team had been together eating breakfast. That day was a fiasco. From what it seemed like an initiation to the new players that had joined the team. It was Xiomara and well a new kid that Alexander never payed attention to. Not that he was being a butt, but the new kid hadn't been around as much. Or well that's what he thought. Rainne was eating waffles, Lillian using her human pillows and throwing food at Brandon... Or was it the other way around?

Coming out of his thoughts, Alexander simply smiled. Looking back ahead of the road. The Red Star Lounge sounded like a perfect place to be right now. A little coke with rum wouldn't be so bad at all at this moment.

[Damn, that must've sucked =/]

[Kairi Soto]

Kairi glanced at him in mock-fierceness, determined that she would not let him foot her bill. Alex looked back at her, a smirk and scoffing retort on his lips. Grumble grumble grumble ah distraction.

Biting her lower lip as she wondered his question back through the years, she found herself puzzled. Stopping to recount the members of the team that they had shared, it was sad how few she knew of that were still alive. Alex was now confirmed for, but between Logan, Rainne and Lillian, half the team had disappeared before she had. "I saw Brandon his last day of term, and Carina was teaching at Hogwarts some time ago. Read that Xio graduated from Hogwarts a while back as well." Alex's partially tightened grip was a choice move. Kairi let him lead her as she stared, unfocused, at passing buildings, lost in thought. With a smile, her brain showed her a clip from the days of The French Toast Order, Fred the waffle. Did he remember that glory? More than likely. Was there anyone else in the team? Shoot, she hadn't even seen anyone from Hogwarts, except Straw. And that hardly counted, they were both on business; he, trying to arrest her and she, trying to kill him. That day still made Kairi squirm.

Withdrawing abruptly, she found herself staring at a dirty, vacant window in Alex's guiding grasp. "But then again, I've been out for the last few years. What about you? What have you been up to since school?"

[yeah, wasn't too pleasant.][/size][/font][/color]

[Alexander W. Black]

What hasn't Alex been up to? Well it wasn't much really. It always seemed like it was a lot but generally it was just the traveling that made it seem that way. Alexander began looking back, thinking of everything he had been through since he had left Hogwarts.

"Well since I had left the grounds, I had been in hopes for a job. I had started looking out over at Hogsmeade and landed myself at Madame Puddifoot's for a while. I wasn't exactly sure if I wanted to pursue into teaching. Especially at Hogwarts. So meanwhile I stayed over at the shop working, until I saw an opening at Hogwarts as a teacher assistant for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Of course I couldn't miss the chance so I sent in my resume. Things went well and I left Puddifoots. It wasn't much of a success teaching. I thought I was pretty sure I wanted to teach but things came into mind and well I started going to the University. That didn't work either. I found the life an Auror quite exciting but I felt like I missed being at Hogwarts."

Alexander sighed and looked over at his shoulders again, smiling slightly at Kairi. He then turned back around and turned a corner, still dragging her along. The lounge wasn't that much far away, only a few blocks. It was a good thing too that they hadn't been so far. Alex looked up at the sky. The sun had disappeared and the sky was a light murky gray. It seemed as if were going to rain but there were no signs of it. The scent the wind had carried seemed to belong to a sunny day's but no sign of rain.

"I stayed there for only a semester, where I met up with Nathaniel and Xiomara. It was nice to see them again. But that didn't last long before I fled to the west. I needed some alone time to figure things out. I came back and forth a lot, unsure of what to do, till now. Just recently I got back from the Americas. Quite a nice place. Well, anyway, I've just been roaming a bit here and there. Hoping to find a job, which to my success I did. I heard that Black wasn't teaching Care of Magical Creatures anymore. Don't find it a surprise that she fled as well since I had been trying to get into contact with her. So I sent an own to headmistress and well hopefully I should be landing myself once again into the walls of Hogwarts."

[Kairi Soto]

They were off the lane now, the streets wide and shop windows gleaming clean. She caught sight of their reflection in one as they passed, they gray sky solid behind two youthful bodies. A strange sight they must have been to any passerby, disheveled witch and neat wizard, hand in hand. Kairi smiled and the window dipped out of sight around a London corner, her ears on Alex's story.

It sounded much like hers, only far less traumatic. And, Kairi had skipped the America's in her jaunt across the planet. Maybe when they parted ways she'd catch a flight. Muggle contraptions were typically moderately scary, if not fun. She had discovered roller coasters some time in the last year, with much delight.

'...Hopefully I should be landing myself once again into the walls of Hogwarts.' This last question knocked at Kairi's brain. Working at that school sounded wonderful. Back when she was a muggle child, the teachers in her schools always caught her attention as something worthwhile. It definitely sounded more appealing than the position she was in currently, now that her business was done. But then there was the issue with Zonko's, and the remaining friends of her victims. Damn.

"That should be interesting, having a job at Hogwarts. If I get Zonko's up and running again..." Her train of thought slowed for a moment, her tongue fumbling to find the words she wanted, "It'd be my equivalent of working at good ol' Hogwarts. If it weren't for those damned Weasleys." Kairi grinned, a well meaning laugh thumping her chest as they beat the pavement.

Glancing around as she caught her stride with his, she noticed familiar buildings and scenery, a hunch of where they were going edging into thought. Unless there was quality Muggle something around this part of town, the only wizarding refuge she could think of would be the Lounge. Cheap tea and good whiskey, Alex must have been on the same page as she was.

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