its been a while,

[Harmony Lupin]

<sub>It's been a while, hasn't it?

The Leaky Cauldron had yet to change over the many years that Harmony as resided in London. The young American smiled when she entered the building, the stale air that filled her lungs a reminder of home. She had spent many hours wasting away in this pub, and she intended to resume the hobby now that she has the time, the effort and means to do so. The young blond swept elegantly into the Leaky Cauldron, shutting the door quickly behind trying not to draw too much attention to her frail figure. There were two things going through her head right now : One, is she going to see someone she wishes she didn't, and two is she going to see someone she was hoping would be there. Bright brown eyes quickly floated over the very few empty faces that were already there, but none of them was familiar, and she was sure it was going to remain that way. Pushing a stray piece of blond hair from her eyes Harmony accepted the fact that the people she was hoping to run into were probably off living their lives, as where she was just starting hers once again.

Sighing, she took her normal seat by the window, the vicious rains and winds outside cause the little drops of water practically bang on the window. Harmony loved this kind of weather - rain, thunder - it was so … peaceful to her. The world is so chaotic now a days, hope and friends fading with time. The thunder reminded her that as scary and dangerous as it may seem its ok, because he suppose to be like this, and after the weather clears sunny days are awaiting. Shaking her head, Harmony peeled her eyes away from the windowpane, taking off her jacket carefully and placing it behind her chair. She pulled out the Daily Prophet, something she had not read in god knows how long, and turned to the first page. Maybe she can see what it was she missed while she was away. Harmony laughed at the thought, knowing the Prophet is full of rubbish - but it's better to be ill informed then being completely clueless, she supposed.

But the prophet didn't hold her attention very long, considering her mind was preoccupied without the thoughts of Queety, Straw, and others that she had so carelessly left behind without a goodbye. She received Straw's wedding invitation, but her travels kept her from attending, and she was sure Queety had gotten far in her teaching career at the school. But she had yet to contact them, and she had yet to actually tell them she was sorry. As far as she recalled, before she left She broke Straw's heart - which, she got returned to her ten fold, like he predicted - and she almost betrayed Queety's trust and friendship. What does THAT say about her? She shook her head, eyes reading the prophet, but she not actually processing the words. The waiter came by shortly after, Harmony ordering herself a butterbeer before deciding the prophet was just not holding her interest. Rolling her shoulders back she sat back in her chair, arm resting on the back of the chair, fingers placed against her forehead as she watched the rain pour down more and more with each passing moment.</sub>

STATUS; Done & open.
TUNES; Bring me the Horizon! [:
NOTES; Surprise!

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[Straw Buckett]

It had been a long day. Howling wind licked at his neck, causing his skin to erupt in goose bumps. The young man with wild strawberry blond hair pulled his cloak tighter round his neck, his effort was hopeless as each minute gab was filled with the icy wind's piercing sting. The man stepped hurriedly through the sopping wet, taking short cuts through puddles as he rushed toward the Leaky Cauldron.

Slamming the door behind him, Straw Buckett stumbled forward into the semi filled tavern. Dressed in uniform, the Auror made his way to the bar, eager to finish his shift and go home to his family. Images of their faces fill his thoughts, inspiring him through the shift. Despite the endless crying, diapers and lack of sleep, Straw believed work would become a welcomed break however he quickly found himself counting the moments till he was reunited back with his family that night.

Taking a moment to eat, Straw took a seat at the bar and ordered. Any excuse to be out of the rain and misery for now. It was then a crack of thunder which drew his attention to the window, perhaps a sign or even fate, something he wouldn't think about for a while but never the less he was drawn to the blond frail figure reading the paper. "It can't be.." he whispered to himself, wondering if the woman he was who he thought she was. Standing, he slowly etched forward, wondering nerviously if he should assume or leave the person be. He was sure it was her and yet wasn't. It has been so long and people change.

Mustering what certainty he had, Straw approached the table where the woman sat. He was sure it was her...and yet ... Straw turned to walk back to the bar. He was probably wrong and would only embarrass himself. Although....

"Harmony?"

[Harmony Lupin]

Her butterbeer didn't take long to arrive at her table, something Harmony was very thankful for. It didn't take long for Harmony to get cold after she removed her jacket. She was ... tiny, therefore she got cold very easily. the warm liquid soothed chill, it sending chills up and down her spine with each sip she took. It was refreshing. After taking quiet a few sips she placed the cup back down in front of her, her eyes floating over to the door as a few more lonely souls came straggling in from the outside world. No one she knew - or thought she knew. Not long lost friends or interesting faces. Everyone just had the same, melancholy expression grasping their shading appearances. Harmony was sure she did as well, the pale girl always having some what of a puzzled-anxious look on her face. Shaking her head of those thoughts she glanced to the bar, and allowed her attention to slowly float across the room and back tot he window that she so cautiously sat in front of.

Harmony loved thunderstorms. Like, the extent of joy she was holding right now to be watching the storm take full effect on Trio's Alley was just wonderful to her. The flashes of light, the loud bangs that lingered overhead, a constant reminder of the storm's fierce winds and rain. As she watched the storm, Harmony's attention floated over the other costumers at the pub, some jumping when a loud crackle of thunder would ring through out the alley. That Definitely hit a tree branch! Harmony heard one women mutter to the other, the other women nodding nervously in agreement before taking a long gulp of her tea. Harmony grinned, slightly amused that people were so startled. She was such a horrible person, finding amusement in other peoples silly fears when she has plenty of her own .. like spiders. ickk. And encounters you aren't prepared for.

"Harmony?"

Mid sip, Harmony paused where she was, bright brown orbs floating over toward the bar where a Blond haired man was standing, eyes focused intently on her. Straw Buckett Harmony thought to herself, a strange mix of happiness and resentment coming over her. She was very happy to see him, but she was very upset with herself for what she had done to him. Regardless, she got what she deserved. Finishing up her sip, Harmony turn herself around in her chair nervously, Placing her glass down and lifting up a hand and giving a wave and a smile "Hey Straw, long time no see," she told him, seeing how much he had grown up, but she could tell he was still the same old straw. She heard he had a kid - she didn't know what gender, but hopefully if he stuck around she could find out. "Um - you can sit," she offered, unknowing of how he was going to react.

[Straw Buckett]

Harmony Lupin, the one that got away. The very name brought waves of goose bumps all over the young man. Her very presence brought back a rollercoster of emotions and memories. A flash of lightening illuminated the tavern, as life decided to highlight this particular moment in time and generate tention. Straw's mouth hung millimeters open as he started blankly back at the small woman he'd grown so attatched to.

The two had become quiet close after school, finding comfort in each other when others decided to leave them. She quickly became one of his best friends and soon Straw found he'd grown deeply attached to the girl in more ways then expected. Sadly however Harmony was not as attached to Straw as he wanted her to be. An old high school ex got in the way and slowly she began pull away from him. There was nothing he could do but try to be a friend, it was too much for Straw and he begrudgingly let her go. He hadn't seen her since.... even at his wedding.

And now here she was, as almost like she'd never left. Straw found himself wanting to rub his eyes in disbelief. What was Harmony Lupin doing back? Was she with Shadow after all? He wasn't sure if he wanted to ask but couldn't help feeling curious. "Hi," he said back in a soft voice. Straw wondered if this was a good idea but soon found his feet making the decision before his brain could. "Yeah, I got a few minutes," he smiled and slipped into the booth. He looked at her for a few moments before opening his mouth again. "How you been? It's been so long.. I thought I'd nev.." but stopped himself thinking this was a little heavy for their first conversation. Looking at her now, he realised how much he missed her. She was such a funny, exciting, interesting girl and deep down Straw couldn't be more happier to see her.

[Queety White]

Rain, rain, go away...
AND DON'T EVER COME BACK!

She did not know what it was. Perhaps it was the way it made her clothes smell like a wet dog. Perhaps it was the scarily loud sounds of thunder and lightning associated with it. Perhaps it was because it caused her hair to frizz like mad. But there was something about the rain that always put the usually cheerful Queety in a foul mood. And to make it worse, she, once again, left her umbrella at the school. It was sitting right on top of her desk.

Of course, there was the option of transfiguring something into an umbrella. She was a witch after all! But this is Queety we're talking about. She'd sooner become Minister of Magic before she was able to transfigure something successfully. The only thing she could do was use magic to straighten her hair, a trick she had learned back when she was a student. So, she was left walking through the Alley all sorts of soaking wet. She groaned as she stepped into the Leaky Cauldron, hoping a butterbeer or something could warm her up and the fire could dry her out.

She immediately saw Straw. That boy was too easy to pick out. And he was chatting with a woman who Queety was sure could not be Kat. Raising her eyebrows, Queety made her way over and sat on the other side of him. Poking him in the side, she gave him the grumpiest face she could muster. "Yo, I'm mad at you," she said. When Straw turned toward her, she continued talking to him while sneaking glances at this woman who he was chatting with. Was it just casual chatting or did they know each other? Queety needed to figure that out.

"So I've decided that it's not fair that you are making me and Kelly choose between Spaiden, Josh and Scarlett," she said matter of factly. "So, you make your decision and we'll deal with it. I'm sure everyone will be happy in the end. Because if they find out fifteen years from now that we chose between them, well Spaiden doesn't like me right now as it is, so--"

Queety stopped chatting just then because she had finally figured out the mystery of the woman. It took her a that long to realize who it was because this was the face of someone she had not seen in ages. It was someone she did not expect to see. Her eyes opened wide in recognition. "Holy Crap! You're Harmony Lupin!" she squealed!

[Harmony Lupin]

<sub>Maybe she should have called first.

Straw Buckett. Oh, how Harmony longed to see him again, yet at sight of his presence brought back a strange sense of emotions for the young werewolf. Happiness, Longing, nervous - but above all, when Harmony's bright brown orbs connected with his baby blues, she felt regret. She left him for Eric. And Eric left her for ... well, for what she did not really know. She broke Straw's heart, and Eric broke hers. It was a fitting result for her just up and leaving like she did. I do that a lot, I should work on that Harmony thought to herself, smiling when Straw said he had a little bit of time to spend with her. She smiled instantly, happy just to be around him. She wanted to tell him she was sorry, how it wasn't that she didn't feel the same way back, how she really did want him as much as he wanted her - it was just bad timing. She still wasn't over Eric, and she let the feelings for him get in the way of her feelings for Straw. That was one reason she didn't attend his wedding - not only was she thousands of miles away, but watching him marry someone else would still sting a bit, no matter how long ago it was. Harmony doesn't take many things for granted, but for some reason she did with Straw.

Straw started asking her how she was, and Harmony wanted nothing but to be completely honest with him. He was one of her best friends before she left, after all [along with the Queet-ster], as well as a little more then that. She had no reason to lie to him, and she owed to him why she up and left him and everyone. Harmony heard him stop mid sentence about how he thought he'd never see her again - even though he stopped, the basic syllables came out. She looked down at her Butterbeer, disappointed in herself for not keeping in touch. "I was going to write you, I really was," She started, eyes wondering back over to him. "I just Ne-" Blinking, Harmony stopped mid sentence, to see an oh to familiar face standing next to Straw, talking to him about something or other that she just simply did not understand. She grinned, knowing Queety did not recognize her at first, but as soon as she did Harmony beamed with happiness.

"QUEETY!" She squeaked, flailing her limbs about as she got up from her chair and nearly tackled the poor women, but it was all in good fun. "I've missed you!" she told her, a smile across her face as she led the both of them back to her table and made sure there were enough chairs for them to sit. Harmony was glad she stopped in for a drink today - this day full of thunderstorms and bright flashes will surely stick in her mind for a very long time.</sub>

[Straw Buckett]

He smiled softly and reached out to take one of Harmony's hands in his. "It's ok, I'm just happy to see you," Straw couldn't describe how much it meant to see Harmony. Not matter how sad she may have made him in the past it didn't matter. To sit and talk and laugh with her now, it was everything.

Their hands were separated at the arrival of Queety, of all people to catch him holding hands with Harmony it had to be Queety. Thankfully the dear girl was too busy to notice her good friend. "Err.. " he goggled at Queety as she babbled on about choosing a god son/daughter. He couldn't help but laugh when she finally noticed her old friend. "Your such a dits" he smirked pushing her lighting as they stepped back into the booth. "And ok, if you're going to make me decide then I'll give you Spaiden, not buts about it!" he added using his pointer finger and shaking it at her. "You two have to make up and play nice," he smiled wondering who she'd rather have other then Spaiden. "He'll be forced to like you one way or another," Straw smirked at the idea as he imaged an older Spaiden running to him and complaining how much he didn't like Aunt Queety, something Straw found difficult to believe. How could anyone not love her?!

He suddenly remembered Harmony and how she wouldn't have a clue who they were talking about. "Wanna see something cute?" and reached into his wallet and produced a photo of his children covered in food. They were smiling back at him looking very happy with themselves. It was Straw's favorite photo, Kat may have not been too impressed to find them covered in their dinner but Straw couldn't stop laughing. They were a talented bunch of kids, "I'd only left them alone for a moment with their mush and came back to this," he giggled. "This is Spaiden, this is Josh and this cutie is Scarlett" he smiled handing her the photo and pointing to each child as he named them.

[Queety White]

Yeah, she had noticed that they were holding hands and that was what raised her suspicions. When she realized it was Harmony, well, the hand holding thing was even more suspicious but Queety threw those thoughts out the window as she accepted the hug-tackle from one of her best friends. "It's so great to see you, too, dear!" she squealed. "Quit disappearing on me like that."

"And you," Queety said, lightly pushing Straw back, "don't make fun of me. I didn't expect to see her is all. And I was still kinda grumpy about the whole picking children deal." She took a seat next to Harmony at the booth. When Straw finally made the decision for her and chose that Spaiden would be her official godchild, she squealed. "Don't worry, Straw. We'll get along. You'll see. I'm determined for us to be best friends!"

She then looked over at Harmony's confused face and figured she did not know. Well, how could she know if she had not been around lately? She glanced at Straw, wondering if he had explained it yet. He seemed to answer her silent question by pulling out his wallet. She leaned over with Harmony to get a better look at the picture. The children were absolutely adorable. Even looking at pictures of them, a warm smile spread across her face, her heart filled with the love for the children as if they were her own. She looked up at Harmony, waiting for her reaction to the news.

[Harmony Lupin]

<sub>Straw's fingers wrapped win hers, Harmony couldn't help but let a light shade of red fill over her cheeks. Her pale tone made it more painfully obvious that she was blushing, but she couldn't really help it. It wasn't so much her blushing because Of feelings for straw, but more because she was some what uncomfortable - but in a good way. She hasn't felt at home and welcome some where in an extremely long time. She hasn't felt love, longing, and happiness in so many countless days that Harmony almost forgot what it was like. But once Straw told her it was ok that she didn't write and how he was just happy to see her, his hand placed in hers felt like home. This was were she was meant to spend the rest of her days. Her eyes floated back over to his "Thanks," was all she mustered, the two hands separating quickly when Queety came over to join the party. Harmony's hand wrapped nervously around her cup, hoping she didn't notice the whole hand-holding thing, as innocent as Harmony believed it to be. Regardless she knew Queety would get suspicious, and knowing her hawk like eyes she probably caught it. None the less she played it off well.

Harmony was extremely relieved when both her friends welcomed her back with open arms and warm smiles. It was almost like she never left, but truth be told she was gone for over a year - and as she predicted and heard, a lot had changed. She grinned at Queety, scooting over in the booth to there was room for her to sit as well. When she mentioned how Harmony needed to stop disappearing, she only nodded in agreement, another sip of her butterbeer passing by her lips as she nodded. "I know .. I have a bad habit of leaving then reappearing. I need to work on that," she offered a cheeky grin, her eyes floating over to Straw, just so he knew he wasn't out of the conversation. But it was soon Harmony who was confused, Queety talking of some strangers and becoming best friends and all these of things. She was awkwardly confused, but it was soon cleared up when Straw took out his wallet, displaying pictures of his children.

"Three Straw? You've had Three kids?!" Harmony squeaked, shocked. By her sources she heard he only had one child, but Three? She couldn't even imagine! "Straw, you've been pretty busy - I haven't even been married," She chuckled, shaking her head a bit causing a stray piece of blond hair to move from her eyes. She smiled, looking at the wallet size snap shots with Queety. "They are absolutely adorable. I do hope I get to meet them soon?" She questioned, noting how much they looked like Straw. She could see a bit of Kat in them as well, but for the most part the boys were dominated by Straw's genetics, at lest it seemed so to her. But you never know with these kinds of things, they could grow up and look just like Kat - you never know.</sub>

[Straw Buckett]

It was strange how overwhelmed he became whenever he thought of the triplets. He's always expected to but never in his wildest dreams did he imagine how in love he'd become with them. He was obsession they were his everything thought. Straw'd never been so obessed in his whole life. It always made him wonder why and how his own father could be so disgusted with Straw to abandon his entire family all together. How could anyone hate their children so much? The thoughts always made him sick and he'd usually pushed it far from his mind again.

"Hey hang on a sec," he chuckled, "Kat and I aren't..." he paused to word the next sentence properly, "THAT promiscuous," his eyes rolled to the side innocently as he struggled to withhold a grin. "Wasn't like we were popping them out faster then popcorn," Arh think - bad analogy "I'm a twin after all, it's in my genes so naturally.. for poor Kat we had Triplets" he couldn't help but laugh. They'd always laughed about his stupid genes putting Kat through hell, a private joke only him and his friends could really laugh about.

"Anyway, not like we err planned it. These things.. happen" his voice was light and slightly high as he awkwardly spoke trying to keep it positive. He never wanted their unplanned pregnancy sounds like a mistake. "But really couldn't have it any other way. When the gremlins grow up they wont have such an old man for a dad. I'll be their best friend. ACTUALLY .." and he turned and punch Queety in the arm , "Guess who can say da already" he beamed eyebrows raised and excited. "Joshie and Scar!" although all three of them could say 'ma' by now, he didn't mention that part. The race was still on to see who would complete the full 'mama/mum' or 'dada'. The bets were down, the game was getting dirty, he was sure Kat was taking every chance to teach them mum before dad but then again so was Straw whenever he was with them.

"You should come over Lupin, you two wanna come for dinner?" he asked knowing Kat would probably enjoy the break and some grown up time. They're house was always full of visitors with Queety and Kelly always visiting. "But yeah if you guys have plans it's cool, can be another time. Plus hey," and now reached out to playfully push Harmony, "Be nice to hear all your stories and where you've been and been doing?" Straw didn't want to leave right now, he was enjoying hanging out with the two girls. He missed Harmony a lot and really wanted to keep the conversation going as long as possible and Kat was sending him angry owls to get home...So the only sensible thing was to take her home with him. "So either you either tell us here," Straw draped an arm around Queety's shoulder and raised an eye brow at Harmony. "Or we kidnap you home,"

[OCC; I imagine they're all squashed into the booth so Harms/Queets/Straw in one chair?]